BIO-STATS OF DR. ALEX OTTI, OFR
Dr. Alex Otti is the former Group Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer of Diamond Bank Plc, a leading bank in Nigeria with
Business offices in London, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin.
Diamond Bank is one of the eight systemically important banks in the
country as announced by Central Bank of Nigeria.
Dr. Alex Otti, a renowned banker, has also held the following
appointments:
Chairman of the Committee of Bank Chief Executives in Nigeria
Chairman of the Bankers Committee Sub-Committee on
Sustainability, Economic Development and Gender
Chairman, Diamond Bank United Kingdom
Board Member, Diamond Bank du Benin
Board Member, Nigerian Interbank Settlement System
Board Member, Airtel Nigeria Limited
Director, Airtel Nigeria Limited (2005 – 2011);
Director, FBN Mortgages Limited
Director, First Pension Custodian Nigeria Limited;
Member, Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt (2007
– 2012);
Chairman, Economics & Statistics committee, Lagos Chamber of
Commerce and Industry;
Member, Governing Council of Babcock University;
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria;
Member, Institute of Directors;
He graduated from the University of Port Harcourt in 1988 with First
Class Honours degree in Economics, won the Dean’s prize and was also
the best graduating student from the University that year. In 1994, He
graduated with a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the
University of Lagos and has since then attended many courses at home
and abroad in prestigious globally recognized universities. His
commitment to education, business and dynamic public policy has been
acknowledged with the following academic honours
Doctor of Business Administration – Babcock University, 2009
Doctor of Science – University of Port Harcourt, 2012
Doctor of Public Administration – University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
2013
WHAT DOES DR. ALEX OTTI HAVE TO OFFER ABIA?
VISION OF A NEW ABIA STATE
Dr. Alex Otti is a visionary. He sees Abia State as the centre of
commerce and industry in the country; a state with modern
transportation, power, industrial and health infrastructure, which is a
first choice amongst states in the country for people to live and work
in. This vision which he wants to bring to reality is what caused him
to leave his position as the CEO of a major bank, and refused to
accept the non-transparent way his former party handled the issue of
primary elections.
LEADERSHIP FOR A NEW ABIA
After decades of successful work in the private sector, leading very
large banks, Dr. Otti has developed into a strong leader with the
capacity to drive execution of agreed plans. In leading a Public
institution with over 10,000 employees and 200,000 shareholders, and
regulated by a tough and uncompromising CBN, he guided Diamond
Bank’s growth into a healthy and thriving financial institution and
achieved balance amongst the competing needs of multiple
stakeholders.
He led the building of an institution where stakeholders are agreed on
common objectives and are committed to making the sacrifices to
achieve these. The leadership qualities he has displayed so far are
transferable to govern Abia State which also has multiple stakeholders.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCE TO CREATE THE NEW ABIA
STATE
He is a technocrat who is acknowledged worldwide and has the
capacity to execute plans and deliver on agreed projects. He
understands the theory and practice of development economics, is a
major contributor to the national economic management field, and
does not require to be subject to any learning curve before he begins
to deliver the dividends of being elected as Governor under All
Progressive Grand Alliance ticket. For sure there will be no
Godfathers to answer to.
ACCESS TO ECONOMIC ENABLERS FOR ALL ABIA CITIZENS
AND COMPANIES
Dr. Alex Otti’s administration is focused on creating “access” for all
citizens and residents of Abia State. There will be access to
healthcare, power and excellent education. Companies and industries
that operate in Abia state shall have access to finance and
international markets through Government promoted export drive.
MINISTRY OF ABA DEVELOPMENT
Dr. ALEX OTTI HAS PROMISED, AS A PRIORITY OF HIS EARLY
DAYS IN OFFICE TO ESTABLISH THE EQUIVALENT OF A
MINISTRY OF ABA
HIS GOVERNMENT WILL REVERSE THESE PAST YEARS OF
MONUMENTAL NEGLECT,INFRASTURCTURAL ROT AND
CRIMINAL ABANDONING OF THE ONCE GREAT CITY. ABA WAS
THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THE EASTERN REGION, COVERING
MOST OF NIGERIA AND WEST AFRICA.
HIS COMMITMENT TO RESTORE THE FINANCIAL VITALITY AND
ENTERPRENEURIAL CAPACITY OF ABA WITH STEADY POWER
SUPPLY IS FIRM. THIS WILL EMPOWER BOTH THE SMALL AND
BIG BUSINESSES IN THE STATE.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
A key pillar of Dr.Otti’s agenda in the overall framework of urban
development is the fact that the Ministry of Aba will be headed by a
development professional. This person shall oversee and manage,
redesign, redevelopment and expansion of the city;
Expansion and reconstruction of urban roads in Aba. The high traffic
roads will be dualized with roundabouts at the right locations. We will
put in place a drainage system that interconnects the flood prone areas
and safely channels the water away;
Construction of flyovers and bridges. In Aba alone, we have identified 3
locations for this as Abayi, Port-Harcourt Road and Ogbor Hill.
Ensure that there is 24/7 uninterrupted power supply in Aba and environs.
Ensure that the city has a proper waste disposal system in place to
eliminate menace of environmental pollution. We will standardize waste
collection and disposal across the state and shall set up a parastatal to
manage the PPP framework that will make this effective;
Send a bill creating the Urban Renewal and Development commission to
the legislature for approval. This body will be charged with redesigning
the cities especially the state capital, Umuahia into functional 21st
century cities that will be centres of pride for all Abians.
Develop a road network, extensive reconstruction and widening of
existing and new roads in Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia etc.
Redesign and redevelopment of markets, industrial areas and parks.
Ariaria market will be moved across the expressway to a purpose built
air-conditioned market with a mall philosophy.
Introduce a housing policy that guarantees home ownership for civil
servants and all Abians who desire a house to call their own.
WASTE MANAGEMENT 7 ENVIRONMENTAL BEAUTIFICATION
The Otti government will ensure that the great Eyinmba city (Aba) and
the key cities have proper waste disposal system in place to eliminate
menace of environmental pollution.
We will standardize waste collection and disposal across the state and
shall set up parastatal to manage the PPP framework that will make this
effective and optimally serve the residents of Abia.
We will keep our state clean and green!
REFORMING GOVERNMENT AND ENSURING TRANSPARENCY &
ACCOUNTABILITY
Civil Service
Everything highlighted above is only possible through a world class
professional civil service and we shall put a lot of effort towards creating
an efficient civil service. The civil service should be able to
Providevarious services to the people;
Ensure timely execution of laws promulgated by the government or
legislated by the assembly;
Take charge of efficient administration of all government social and
business services;
Promote a fair public service system that makes life easier for people;
Prevent the following: Politicization, corruption, godfathers, nepotism,
lack of professionalism, instability etc.
Strengthen management of the civil service, rights and duties of the civil
servants, bases for selection, recruitment & promotion, conditions of
service, training etc.
Local Government Administration
The local government councils are rightly positioned to be closest to the
grassroots and the constitution of the Federal republic recognizes this.
What Abians think will make for efficient local councils are
Top quality human resources in all arms of local government
administration;
Institution of democratic and responsive local council administration;
Tenure guarantee for elected local council officials.
The approach of a government led by Dr. Alex Otti will be to jointly set
developmental goals and provide support for the achievement of such
goals.
Specific areas of co-operation and joint projects with the local councils
are:
Human Capital Development;
Streamlining and collection of taxes, levies etc.;
Provision and maintenance of primary, adult and vocational educational
centres;
Provision and maintenance of health services;
Assessments of privately owned houses or tenements for the levying of
rates and fees;
Establishment, maintenance and regulation of public parks, markets,
slaughter houses and slabs;
Construction and maintenance of streets, street lighting, public facilities,
gardens, open spaces etc.
Input shall be by way of capacity building and introduction of modern
methods, which will help efficient administration. Dr. Otti believes the
Local councils are an essential part of our rural and grass root
development agenda and it is in our best interest to have forward-looking
local council administrations.
Dr. Otti believes the local councils are an essential part of our rural and
grass root development agenda and it is in our best interest to have
forward looking local council administrations.
EDUCATION
Location: Improve number and location of primary and junior secondary
schools so that it is within reasonable commuting distance for children;
Drive up enrolment in Primary school, and junior & senior secondary
schools. Make sure that access is equal for boys and girls;
Ensure that children remain in school and are not withdrawn to help out
in farms, hawking or other businesses during school hours;
Ensure that education is free in government owned schools and that
quality is kept up. Reinforce the free universal basic education policy;
Develop and apply an effective student/teacher ratio;
Empower education inspectors to ensure that the predetermined
education standards are uniform across public and private schools and are
enforced;
Expand the number of available classrooms through construction of
modern school infrastructure that facilitates learning across all the
communities in the state;
Improve the quality and quantity of teachers through continuous
education, workshops and sponsorship for higher learning.
Improve and formalize the vocational education system and institute a
certification system in conjunction with the National Board for Technical
Education;
Improve education for all age brackets by bringing the adults back to
class through an effective adult education policy. We will develop and
implement an “extension classes” policy with a progressive curriculum;
TECHNOLOGY/ICT
We will utilize digital media and technology to maximize the interests
and potentials of our people and all who come through Abia. In this era
of information communication technology, my government will establish
the first public WI-FI network in Nigeria into the two major cities of Aba
and Umuahia.
HEALTHCARE
The healthcare initiative by the Otti government includes a
comprehensive overhaul of the sector.
First, Health is wealth. Public policy focus will be to:
Create a system of healthcare delivery that is affordable and easy to
access by all residents regardless of the part of the state where they
reside.
Focus on effective primary healthcare delivery; A 3 pronged approach
will use health education, staffing of government hospitals and
elimination common childhood killer diseases;
Special focus on maternal and childcare health in order to:
Reduce by over 50% within the next 4 years, the child mortality rate in
Abia state. Increase rate of successful pregnancy tenure and safe
delivery.
Increase the percentage of women that complete a term of pregnancy and
deliver their babies at well-staffed health centres and hospitals. Ensure
full coverage of immunizations and vaccinations for all children.
Attract the right medical specialists into the state through special
interventionist measures in the short run;
Ensure there is a general hospital in each local government area and
specialist hospital in each senatorial zone;
Encourage health related industries like drug and allied products
manufacture;
Ensure private hospitals are properly regulated in conjunction with the
Nigerian Medical Association.
REVITALIZING AGRICULTURE
The Otti government will work in partnership with businesses for large-
scale mechanized farming.
Abia State is known for its arable and productive lands and farms in need
of incentives; and will work together with such farmers.
AGRICULTURE AND RURUAL DEVELOPMENT
The economies of our rural areas are driven by agriculture and over the
years many communities across all zones of the state have faced
challenges of food and water security, transportation infrastructure,
Healthcare, good quality education etc.
In the first place, services such as basic health care, education, security,
and infrastructure needs should be available in urban and rural settings
alike. Our focus is to have integrated development of the rural area. Our
plans are as laid out below:
Provide rural infrastructure such as roads, electricity, portable water,
health facilities, schools etc.
Encourage agriculture in areas of comparative advantage such as palm
oil, cassava, rice, potato, maize and cashews.
Focus the next wave of industries around the agriculture value chain in
support of food processing industries and farming implement
manufacture/fabrication;
Position our farmers to take advantage of national incentives (e.g.
NIRSAL) and international initiatives (e.g. Africa Growth & Opportunity
Act, AGOA).
Aid farmers to gain access to markets and attract right prices for their
products. This shall be through price guarantees and agricultural
subsidies and by construction of modern storage for the highest quality
products;
Ensure our farmers have access to high yield disease resistance seedlings,
and the right fertilizers to use on available soil;
Educate farmers on best and modern practices that improve soil yields;
Create infrastructure to support competitiveness of Made in Abia goods.
Ensure easy evacuation for national and international distribution;
SECURITY
Engagement with the existing federal law enforcement agencies;
Establishment of a community policing/vigilante initiative;
Appoint a State Security Adviser that will liaise between the Governor’s
Office and State Security council on a daily basis;
Focus on intelligence gathering and pre-emptive actions;
Help ameliorate the work of the judiciary to promote efficiency and
speedy dispensation of justice;
Have “no sacred cows” in Abia. All citizens are equal before the law.
INDUSTRIALISATIONENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TACKLING
UNEMPLOYMENT
The government led by Dr. Otti will be committed to provide support for
industrialist and entrepreneurs.
As government, we believe we can be a catalyst for entrepreneurship and
industrialization by helping Abia based companies gain access to finance,
business know how, and regional, national and international markets.
Specifically, we intend to achieve this through the right public policies
and actions such as
Setting up of government approved vocational institutes that will certify
the proficiency of artisans, tradesmen etc. after skills assessment and
evaluation;
Standardize and regulate the trade apprenticeship scheme currently in
practice to ensure products of these schemes are guaranteed a fair
chance;
Establish a Small Business commission for Abia state that will liaise
with SMEDAN and be a primary resource centre for new and established
entrepreneurs;
Work with the local councils to streamline applicable taxes, levies and
rates to reduce the cost burden on businesses;
Promote and sponsor incubation centres for new businesses in select
sectors of the economy.
Work with financial institutions and other venture capitalists to promote
access to seed capital for start-ups that chose to establish in Abia State;
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation networks are critical to economic development.
The Otti government will construct the first, modern light rail system in
this part of Nigeria. It will run from arochukwu to ukwa