Abia in Focus as IOM Seeks Powerful Collaboration
By Our Corespondent
The Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Ms. Sharon Dimanche, has expressed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with Abia State on targeted service delivery in high-priority areas.
According to Ctz. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State, in a statement issued on Thursday, Ms. Dimanche made this known when she led officials of the organisation on a visit to Governor Alex Otti at his office in Umuahia.
Ms. Dimanche said her visit was also to review progress made since her last meeting with the Governor in September 2025 and to seek guidance on areas where programme delivery could be accelerated.
She listed key achievements since the previous visit, including the establishment of a state-level task force on human trafficking, scheduled for inauguration on April 13, 2026.
She reaffirmed the organisation’s readiness to support the Abia State Government in accelerating key development initiatives across the state.
“IOM stands ready to support the State in accelerating your priority initiatives, and we believe this will feed into large-scale programme implementation.
“We will be happy to support community-level infrastructure and stabilisation projects, including targeted service delivery in priority and hard-to-reach areas.
“We want to work with your team to ensure that things are done efficiently and with speed,” Ms. Dimanche said.
She added that the organisation was particularly interested in helping the Governor’s administration translate its strategic vision into visible and measurable impact.
Ms. Dimanche further stated that the IOM was committed to ensuring quick wins and scalable impact across Abia State and proposed immediate steps for deeper collaboration.
She called on the State Government to identify top priority areas, designate a state focal point for coordination, and establish a joint technical team to develop focused programme concepts.
The IOM boss commended Governor Otti’s leadership, describing him as “one of the very special governors in this country,” adding that his leadership style and vision have attracted commendation across political divides.
“Every person I interact with acknowledges and appreciates your leadership, regardless of party affiliation.
“That shows the strength of your vision for economic development, transformation, job creation, and inclusive growth,” she said.
Ms. Dimanche, who lauded the Governor’s commitment to combating human trafficking, added that plans had been concluded for capacity-building training for task force members and victim protection support.
On diaspora engagement, she praised the establishment of the Abia Diaspora Commission, noting that IOM had already commenced an institutional capacity needs assessment for the commission.
She identified three key areas of partnership: diaspora engagement, value chains and enterprise development, and community-level resilience. She also emphasised the importance of data and evidence-based policymaking, revealing that an information management needs assessment conducted in October had been completed.
She said the next steps include establishing a multi-stakeholder data management committee and building capacity for effective data integration into governance and development programmes.
Receiving the delegation, Governor Alex Otti reiterated his administration’s commitment to economic transformation, inclusive growth, and improved social services as part of efforts to curb poverty and encourage reverse migration.
The Governor recalled that during IOM’s previous visit, discussions centred on migration and strategies to encourage reverse migration.
He noted that many people migrate legally or illegally in search of better opportunities, believing that conditions elsewhere are more favourable.
Governor Otti, however, observed that such expectations are sometimes illusory, stressing that the solution lies in creating an enabling environment that guarantees transparency, fairness, justice, and equity.
He stated that the State Government is interested in exploring options such as funding support, including diaspora financing and bond instruments, in partnership with IOM.
The Governor also noted the State’s interest in building strategic partnerships for key projects, including the proposed medical city and airport project.
He added that support from credible international organisations such as IOM would boost investor confidence and attract more development partners to the State.
Governor Otti assured the IOM Chief of Mission that the State’s technical team would engage further with the organisation to work out partnership details and identify priority intervention areas.
He further noted that access to quality healthcare remains a major factor influencing migration decisions.
“If a person cannot access good healthcare in one location but can get it elsewhere, it becomes reasonable for such a person to relocate.
“Some ailments can be easily managed if the basic things are in place, especially functional primary healthcare centres,” Governor Otti said.
He added that the State has gone beyond basic primary healthcare delivery, noting that between 80 and 85 per cent of healthcare needs can now be addressed at that level.
The Governor said the State Government has established minimum standards, including the provision of equipment and qualified healthcare professionals.
He also disclosed that the introduction of free education has led to a sharp increase in school enrolment across the State. According to him, enrolment figures doubled shortly after the policy was introduced, prompting the employment of over 5,000 teachers, while an additional 4,000 are currently being processed for recruitment.
The Governor was joined at the meeting by the Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D; the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Ijeoma Aghukwa; the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Hon. Blessing Felix; the Senior Special Assistant on Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Hon. Odinakachi Eric Eme; and other senior government appointees.
