Never Give Up on Your Dreams, Otti Tells Women

The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has charged women to pursue their dreams and visions without allowing distractions to deter them.

He urged them to remain focused, resilient, and persistent in the pursuit of their goals and aspirations in life.

Governor Otti gave the advice on Saturday during the Women of Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI) Inspiring Women Summit (WIWS), held at Blanc Galleria, Central Business District, Abuja, with the theme: “PUSH, Position Until Something Happens.”

He encouraged women to draw inspiration from his personal journey to becoming the Governor of Abia State, noting that he contested elections three consecutive times before eventually realising his ambition.

WODDI is a non-profit organisation founded by Her Excellency, Zinaria Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, wife of the immediate past Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.

The organisation envisions “a world where every woman, adolescent, youth, and person living with disabilities is empowered to lead with purpose, live with dignity, and drive transformative change within their families, communities, and nations.”

Speaking during the event, Governor Otti, who referenced a statement made by one of the guest speakers, Linus Okorie, which he said deeply resonated with him.

Governor Otti said: “There is something that Dr. Linus Okorie said which resonates deeply with me, and that is: never, ever give up.

“So, for the women, never, ever give up. Don’t accept ‘no’ for an answer. If you try and fail, try, try, and try again.

“If you are in doubt, ask me. I contested elections in 2015, I contested again in 2019, and people said, ‘You’ve tried; go elsewhere.’ In 2023, I contested again. If I did not contest in 2023, would I be here today?

“So, if you have a dream, hold on to it and never give up,” Otti charged.

Speaking further, he encouraged women to continually seek knowledge and embrace lifelong learning, stressing that learning never ends until death.

“The most important point we have made here is that people must remain open to learning. The day you stop learning, you are dead. You can never know everything,” he added.

Commenting on the theme of the summit, “PUSH, Position Until Something Happens,” Governor Otti said it is important for individuals to determine where they want to be and what they hope to achieve in life.

The Governor explained that many people misunderstand positioning as remaining static or staying in one place, a notion he discouraged. According to him, positioning also involves repositioning when necessary and, at times, changing one’s direction entirely.

He noted that true positioning is not about remaining static but about studying situations, understanding changing realities, and making the necessary adjustments to achieve one’s goals.

Governor Otti also commended the convener for redefining empowerment in a way that aligns with the vision of his administration.

“A lot of people define empowerment as handouts,giving somebody a piece of cake, giving someone food to eat, or simply giving them fish.

“From what I have seen here, by looking at the brochure and listening to the conversations around this summit, she is going beyond merely giving fish.

“This is about teaching people how to fish and ensuring sustainability. We can give you fish today, and tomorrow you are hungry again. But if you know how to fish, and if you have been empowered to fish, whenever you need fish, you can go and get it yourself,” he stated.

The Governor also commended the convener for authoring three books, which were unveiled at the summit by Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the immediate former Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo.

Governor Otti lamented the declining reading culture among many people, noting that “he who does not read has no advantage over he who cannot read.” 

He encouraged participants to obtain copies of the books and dedicate time to reading them.

Speaking at the event, the husband of the convener, Senator Rochas Okorocha, said it took him years to fully understand his wife, adding that “being there for the people is her joy.”

Earlier in her remarks, the convener of the summit and founder of WODDI, Mrs Zinaria Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, PhD, said:

“WODDI was born from a simple but unwavering belief: that no woman is defined by her circumstances, and that within every woman lies a strength, a purpose, and a potential that deserves to be seen, supported, and expressed.”

She stressed that every initiative undertaken by the organisation has been guided by that belief.

The summit was attended by the wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Hajia Nana Shettima (represented), diplomats, wives of former governors and senators, as well as women and men of influence from different walks of life.