Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has commended the leadership of the Methodist Church Nigeria for its youth empowerment initiatives, describing them as complementary to his administration’s efforts to equip young people with productive skills and reduce unemployment.
The governor gave the commendation while receiving a delegation of the Methodist Youth Fellowship National, led by its National President, Ambassador Engr. Michael Eze, during a courtesy visit at the Government House, Umuahia.
Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Religious Matters, Apostle Kenneth Wiper, Governor Otti described youths as the driving force of national development and stressed the need to engage them through meaningful empowerment programmes.
He highlighted several youth-focused initiatives of his administration, including agricultural training programmes, ICT skills development through the TechRise initiative, employment of teachers and healthcare workers, and youth empowerment schemes designed to promote self-reliance and discourage involvement in crime.
The governor said his administration also launched Operation Crush to tackle insecurity while complementing security efforts with empowerment and sensitisation programmes aimed at redirecting vulnerable youths toward productive ventures.
Earlier, the National President of the Methodist Youth Fellowship, Ambassador Engr. Michael Eze, said the delegation was in Abia for its three-day national leadership conference and visited the governor to appreciate his administration’s achievements, particularly in youth development.
He noted that the fellowship has introduced programmes focused on digital skills, agriculture and vocational training to prepare young people for economic opportunities.
Other members of the delegation also commended the governor for ongoing infrastructure development across the state, describing improvements in road networks and transport facilities as evidence of the administration’s commitment to development.
