18-year-old orphan emerges Abia Teenage Governor

An 18-year-old Miss Chineme J. Ota has emerged as the newest one-day Teenage governor in Abia State. 

Recall that the Abia State Governor in 2017 copied what was introduced in Nigeria by then Governor of Lagos State and current Minister for Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola as a way of motivating and encouraging the young ones towards hard work and commitment in pursuing their life dreams. 

The maiden edition was won by 14-year-old Miss Joy Ezechikamnayo who is also the senior prefect of Intellectual Giants Christian Academy, Umuahia.

Ezechikamnayo presided over the affairs of state alongside members of her executive council drawn from all the Local Government Areas of Abia State.

While many lauded the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu led administration for such an initiative, others argued that the exam should be limited to students in public schools in the state.

In 2018 edition however, Miss Ota, a student of Ohafia Girls Model Secondary School emerged the winner of the week-long competition.

The emergence of Miss Ota is the second time in a row female students are emerging teenage Abia Governor.

More interesting about Miss Ota’s emergence is that the teenage Governor, who hails from Amaekpu Ohafia, is an orphan.

Speaking after being inaugurated at the Government House in Umuahia, the 18-year old student of Ohafia Girls Model Secondary School, on behalf of her 20-member executive team, requested that the Teenage Governor initiative be sustained in the State to encourage hard-work and academic excellence among teenagers.

Ota also used the opportunity to make a case for the establishment of a Youth Centre in the State to tackle cases of child abuse. She stated that as an orphan from a very young age, she faced various challenges but thanked God for seeing her through and making her a voice for others.

Miss Ota thanked Governor Ikpeazu for granting her the opportunity of becoming the 2018 Teenage Governor and called on all to work together for the peace and Progress of the state.

Earlier, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu reiterated his administration’s commitment to honor high performing teenagers in the state.

Ikpeazu expressed appreciation for the good performance of Abia students in public examinations in the last four years. 

According to him, “For the first time in the history of the state and possibly Nigeria in general, Abia students have maintained first position, back to back, in West Africa School Certificate Examination (WASCE) for four consecutive years”.

Governor Ikpeazu who urged the Teenage Governor and her executive team to  ensure they use the opportunity to learn more about good leadership and the running of successful state institutions, expressed appreciation to Abia school teachers and parents for raising high flying children that will take over the leadership of the state in future.

Continuing, the Governor said, “I am confident that with the modest achievements we have recorded in the education sector in the past four years and going forward, our future is assured in Abia State. We are not going to rest on our laurels but will continue to add to what we have done to ensure that Abia remains the number one State as far as education is concerned in Nigeria.” 

Dr Ikpeazu further highlighted various projects his administration has embarked upon in education, road construction, agriculture, health, industry, trade and commerce, among others. He encouraged the team to visit some of the projects he has executed in the State and revealed the plans of his government to improve the state’s output in various agricultural value chain derivatives including palm and cassava products.

The Governor, who expressed hope that the students would excel  in their future engagements, congratulated the Teenage Governor and her executive team on their success in the debate and quiz competitions that led to their emergence.

Miss Joy Ezechikamnayo, the first Abia Teenage Governor is now a law student of Abia State University, Uturu.