The Abia State Government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) aimed at reversing migration through Economic Development, Education and Poverty Alleviation.
Speaking after signing the MoU, the Governor, Dr Alex Otti emphasized that while the IOM is often associated with facilitating migration, Abia’s focus is on attracting people back to the State.
Governor Otti while highlighting his administration’s efforts to create an investor-friendly environment, said he is optimistic that the partnership would extend to enhancing education and healthcare, particularly through collaborations with donor agencies and development partners.
He said that the key focus of his administration is Poverty Reduction hence the establishment of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to ensure the eradication of Poverty in Abia.
The Governor restated the commitment of his administrations to partnerships that can drive job creation, reduce unemployment, and boost the state’s GDP, assuring the delegation that the State Government would provide them with an office space in Umuahia within next week to support their mission.
In his contribution, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Mr Odinakachi Emeh, highlighted the importance of the collaboration pointing out that it would help the State to strengthen diaspora engagement and create opportunities for people to invest in the State.
He further disclosed that as part of the agreement, the IOM will also support the State by providing facilities and working closely with Donor Agencies to bring investments that align with the State’s development agenda.
He described the allocation of a dedicated space for the IOM’s first office in the South East region of Nigeria as a “strong statement” in international development circles and thanked the Governor for engaging in strategic partnerships as well as creating an enabling environment for Abians to thrive.
Earlier in her speech, the leader of the delegation and Chief of Mission, United Nations International Organisation for Migration, Ms Paola Pace said that the MoU signed would strengthen the diaspora engagements between Abia State Government and the IOM.
She said the UN IOM is in Abia to strengthen relationship through interaction with thematic Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as find ways of attracting donor agencies to the State.
The Secretary to Abia State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr Matthew Ekwuruibe, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, his Basic and Secondary Education counterpart, Elder Goodluck Ubochi among other personalities witnessed the signing of the MOU.
