By CHARLES IWUOHA

Abia State Government has graduated the second batch of Leadership Academy Trainees, an initiative aimed at building a large community of leaders in the State and Nigeria generally.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, said that what his Government set out to do with the programme is to redirect the people to become better citizens and charged the participants to keep learning.

"My charge to you will be to keep learning, share, and influence the behaviour of others based on leadership.

"Leadership is the ability to influence and drive outcomes. So, what we actually set out to do here which we will continue to do, is to redirect our people.

"Redirect our young ones, redirect their vision, redirect their thinking. Gone are the days when our young ones are left to turn out to become thugs, who will be thinking of drugs and other nefarious activities including cultism and things along those lines..

"We are also making a clear distinction in the area of institution building because just behind leadership is the architecture of social strength," Gov. Otti stated.

The Governor stressed the need to get leadership from the foundation, saying that the programme is very dear to him and is closely tied to his social reorientation programme.

"Additionally, this is about raising a new generation of leaders, those who have transformed their minds to think broadly and deeply whenever and wherever they are confronted with any challenge at all.

"Our target is to build a large community of leaders who are acquainted with each other as young people and can seamlessly create new front lines of partnership," Gov. Otti disclosed.

This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Otti's Chief press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha and made available to journalists in Umuahia.

He said that each person who successfully concludes the programme would be required to mentor at least one person every month over the next 12 months. He informed the participants that a digital platform has been created to accommodate all of them for further conversations.

In their speeches, the Chairman of Abia Leadership Academy and Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu said that the vision of the programme is to build leaders who can create impact.

While thanking everyone who has contributed to the success of the leadership training, he noted that by investing in these young ones, the Governor is creating leaders with impact.

Also, a member of the committee and Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Pastor Mrs. Eno Jerry-Eze said that Abia Leadership Academy is becoming a movement, adding that the State is intentional about her youths.

She said that Governor Otti is building the New Mind Economy through the young people and urged the participants to hold fast to all they were exposed to.

Earlier while reading the content of the training, the lead consultant and director of programme, Mr. Johnson Abali informed the gathering that the participants were divided into groups to enable them to participate immensely in the programme.

He thanked the Governor for investing in the future of Abia youths as they have been empowered.

In their transformational testimonies, some of the participants, including Emmanuel Uma, Chibuzor Innocent, Prince Ceazer among others described the training as the best way to prepare Abia for the future, adding that, with what they have been exposed to, Abia is turning into something that would blow people's minds.

They thanked Governor Alex Otti for giving them such an opportunity to be trained and prayed God to bless him.

The event was witnessed by some parents of the participants and many senior Government appointees.