Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has urged Nigerian youths to approach politics with integrity, competence, and a strong track record of professional achievement. He made this call during the 5th graduation ceremony of the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG) in Abuja on Saturday.

Addressing the graduating class of 2025, Governor Otti emphasized that politics is not a mere profession but a calling for those who have demonstrated service, leadership, and results.

“Politics has been reduced to a vocation. Politics is not a job; if you don’t have a job, go and find one. You need to have done something before you come into leadership. If you’re not doing anything, then you are jobless. Find a job, do it well, build a track record, and then come and say, ‘This is what you can do,’” he stated.

Otti criticized the frequent practice of entrusting leadership roles to individuals lacking substantial experience, noting, “You can never give what you don’t have.”

He further highlighted the value of education, describing an educated person as one who asks meaningful questions and pursues evidence-based solutions. The governor commended the SPPG, particularly its founder, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, for equipping a new generation of leaders to tackle Nigeria’s political challenges.

Expressing optimism about the impact of the graduates, Otti said they were well-positioned to transform politics at both regional and national levels.

“The most urgent challenge facing our nation’s evolving democracy is poor preparedness on the part of political actors,” he added.

Governor Otti also recounted his decade-long struggle to attain the Abia governorship, recalling electoral setbacks in 2015 and 2019, and surviving an assassination attempt in 2015, which he attributed to divine intervention.

Highlighting his administration’s achievements, he pointed to Abia’s improved safety, business-friendly environment, upgraded road infrastructure, and reforms in education and healthcare.

Urging the graduates to prioritize citizen engagement, Otti said, “Bring ordinary citizens to the centre of the political process. Remind them that they are most affected by bad policy decisions and invite them to become co-owners of the process that shapes our social and economic destinies.”

He challenged the class of 2025 to serve as models of excellence and carry the values of SPPG into their public service endeavours.