Abia State Governor Alex Otti has approved a fresh round of strategic appointments, naming Dr. Idowu Eluwa as the new Provost of the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, and Joe Emerson as Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution. The changes are part of what the governor described as his effort to strengthen education, governance, and service delivery across the state.
The announcement, contained in a statement signed on Monday, August 25, 2025, by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Kenneth Kalu, also confirmed Uche Mark Nwosu as Chief Protocol Officer to the Governor and Ikechukwu Nwankwo as Deputy Chief Protocol Officer. To further bolster the governor’s protocol team, Emmanuel Irechi, Amarachi Inyama, and Augustine Chukwuebuka were appointed Protocol Officers, while Adaeze Iroegbu was named Chief Moderator to the Governor.
In political engagement, Iheanyi Frank Chinasa takes up the role of Chief Liaison Officer and National Assembly Liaison Officer, tasked with strengthening the Governor’s relationship with federal lawmakers and national institutions. Analysts say this move signals Otti’s intent to deepen Abia’s voice in Abuja, particularly on issues of fiscal federalism and development funding.
The transport sector also witnessed a shake-up as Otti appointed Emmanuel Ufomba as Chairman of the Abia State Transport Corporation (ABIA). He will be joined on the board by Godanswer Kalu, Mrs. Salomey Onwu, Kingsley Oriaku, and Onyebuchi Nna. The move comes amid Otti’s plans to restructure Abia’s public transport system, improve revenue generation, and modernize mobility in urban and rural areas.
Other appointees include Chima Ukwa as Special Assistant on Sports, a portfolio expected to drive youth development and grassroots football in the state; Christian Enwerenmadu as Special Adviser on Agriculture, with a mandate to expand agribusiness opportunities; and Mrs. Chinenye Nwaka as Senior Special Assistant on Women Affairs, in line with the Governor’s emphasis on gender inclusion.
Observers say the appointments reflect Otti’s broader strategy of placing trusted hands in sensitive positions while balancing technocrats with political loyalists. Education and transport remain key priorities in his administration, alongside agriculture and women empowerment, as Abia seeks to diversify its economy and tackle unemployment.
The SSG confirmed that all appointments take immediate effect. Political watchers believe the shake-up signals the Governor’s determination to accelerate reforms across critical sectors before the end of 2025.
