Governor Otti Launches EU-Funded Social Protection Programme, Vows to Tackle Poverty Holistically
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has launched the Support for Sustainable and Innovative SocialProtection Systems in Nigeria—an EU-funded programme aimed at improving the livelihoods of vulnerable groups in the state.
Speaking at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Umuahia, Governor Otti emphasized that his administration does not treat poverty and social deprivation as isolated issues, but as interconnected challenges requiring structured solutions.
The Governor also inaugurated the Abia State Social Protection Council, chaired by Deputy Governor Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, with members drawn from key MDAs, civil society, and religious organizations.
In his address titled “Victory Through Partnership,” Governor Otti praised the EU, UNICEF, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) for choosing Abia as one of the four pilot states for the €13 million, three-year project, which will strengthen Nigeria’s social protection system and expand coverage for the most vulnerable.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, said the programme complements EU’s wider goals of promoting education, healthcare, gender equality, and economic growth, while reducing poverty and inequality.
Also speaking, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Services, Judith Leveillee, described the initiative as a “springboard that allows people to live with dignity,” while ILO Country Director, Dr. Vanessa Lerato Phala-Moyo, commended Governor Otti’s vision and aligned the project with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
