The Abia State Government has partnered with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University for the 2026 edition of the Abia State Leadership Academy Youth Leadership Bootcamp, aimed at equipping young people with leadership, entrepreneurial and innovation skills.

The week-long residential programme officially commenced on Sunday with the arrival of 1,000 selected participants at the Government College Umuahia camp.

Flagging off the programme on behalf of Governor Alex Otti, the Deputy Governor, Chief Ikechukwu Emetu, described the bootcamp as a strategic investment in developing the next generation of leaders for Abia State and Nigeria.

He urged the participants, drawn from across the state, to approach the training with humility, actively engage in all activities and build lasting relationships that would positively impact their schools, communities and the state.

Emetu said the Abia State Leadership Academy was not a routine training initiative but a deliberate institution established to instil ethics, values and practical leadership skills in young people.

According to him, the academy aligns with Governor Otti’s vision of preparing a new generation of responsible leaders capable of sustaining the state’s development agenda.
He noted that this year’s edition attracted more than 7,000 applications, from which only 1,000 participants were selected after a rigorous screening process.

“The overwhelming response demonstrates that our young people are eager for genuine transformation and have confidence in this administration’s commitment to investing in their future,” he said.

The deputy governor described the partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University as a significant milestone, noting that the institution is globally recognised and maintains partnerships with organisations including the World Bank, Goldman Sachs and Mastercard.

Representing the Executive Director of the Enterprise Development Centre, Dr Uche Egbuna said the future of every society depends on the quality of leaders it intentionally develops.

He described leadership as a responsibility anchored on integrity and service, adding that the bootcamp curriculum was designed around four major pillars: leadership and service, enterprise, impact, and innovation.

Egbuna encouraged participants to embrace the opportunity to become problem-solvers, ethical leaders and change-makers capable of contributing to economic growth and social transformation.

He said the collaboration between the Enterprise Development Centre and the Abia State Leadership Academy reflected a shared commitment to nurturing resilient entrepreneurs and innovative young leaders.

Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Mrs Eno Jerry Eze, represented by Commissioner I in the commission, Rev. Mrs Ifeoma Agu, said the programme would expose participants to the ideals of civic responsibility and ethical leadership.

She urged the participants to maximise the lessons from the bootcamp to improve their lives and become positive agents of change in society.

Jerry Eze also commended Governor Otti for prioritising youth development and laying a foundation for sustainable leadership in the state, while encouraging instructors to deliver quality training throughout the programme.

Delivering a lecture titled The Demands of Stewardship, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Dr Caleb Ajagba, described the establishment of the Abia State Leadership Academy as a visionary initiative that would shape the lives, character and leadership capacity of young people.

According to him, the academy represents a strategic investment in the future of Abia by nurturing responsible leaders who would uphold integrity, innovation and public service.

President of the Abia State Leadership Academy, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, disclosed that 7,052 applications were received for this year’s programme, with only 1,000 candidates emerging successful after a rigorous selection exercise.

He said the bootcamp features a comprehensive curriculum designed to challenge participants intellectually and morally.

Kalu urged the participants to think critically, reflect deeply, and focus on what they would become after the programme rather than merely completing it.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Master Chukwuemerie Obiorah and Miss Treasure Ogbonna expressed appreciation to Governor Otti for creating the opportunity to prepare young people for transformational leadership.

They pledged to make the best use of the training and justify the confidence reposed in them by the state government.

Among dignitaries present at the opening ceremony were the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Meribeole; Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Emeh Uche; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication, Mr Dodoh Okafor; Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Strategy Officer, Mr Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu; and other government officials.