The wife of the Abia State Governor, Priscilla Otti, has called on Abians living in the diaspora to play an active role in the ongoing transformation of the state, stressing that meaningful progress can only be achieved through collective effort.

She made the appeal on Saturday during an Abia town hall meeting organised by the Women’s Wing of the Abia State Town Union at Abati Barracks in Ojuelegba, Lagos.

Among those present at the event were the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu; Senior Special Assistant to Governor Alex Otti, Agbonma Ukaobasi; and other government officials.

Speaking at the gathering, Otti described the meeting as an opportunity for Abians to discuss their common aspirations and future. She encouraged indigenes living outside the state to contribute their resources, expertise, and ideas toward its growth.

According to her, Abia women remain one of the state’s strongest assets and possess the capacity to drive development across various sectors.

She pointed to ongoing improvements in infrastructure, security, education, healthcare, youth development, women empowerment, and efforts aimed at creating a more conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

The governor’s wife noted that while significant progress had already been recorded, the achievements represented only the beginning of the administration’s broader development agenda.

She said Governor Alex Otti remains focused on advancing the state and has continued to emphasise that even greater developments lie ahead for Abia.

Otti, however, maintained that government efforts alone would not be sufficient to achieve the desired transformation. She called for stronger partnerships between residents and Abians living in other parts of the country and abroad.

She said the town hall meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, identify investment opportunities, strengthen collaboration, and explore practical ways of contributing to the state’s economic growth and prosperity.

The First Lady also encouraged women to take leading roles in the development process, describing them as key drivers of societal advancement.

According to her, the success of women has a ripple effect on families and communities, ultimately contributing to broader social and economic progress.

She further urged citizens to participate actively in the democratic process by registering to vote, obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and engaging peacefully in future elections.

Otti stressed that the future of Abia would not be determined solely by those residing within the state, but also by the commitment, vision, and sacrifices of Abians living across Nigeria and in different parts of the world.

She therefore called for stronger connections between the diaspora community and the state, encouraging Abians everywhere to invest not only financially but also through knowledge-sharing, innovation, and community development initiatives.