Otti launches New Abia Crusaders Club as tertiary sports fiesta opens in Umuahia

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has asked students in the state's tertiary institutions to build their character as much as their certificates, saying the future of the state rests on young people who can solve problems and create jobs.

Otti spoke on Tuesday at the opening of the 2026 Abia State Tertiary Education Sports Fiesta, where the New Abia Crusaders Club was also unveiled. The event held at the Umuahia Township Stadium, and the governor was represented by his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu.

According to the governor, the New Abia project is not only about roads, renovated schools and healthcare. It is, he said, fundamentally about building people, restoring values and raising a generation committed to excellence, integrity and service.

He described the fiesta as more than a gathering of students, calling it a chance to celebrate youthful energy, creativity and the potential of young people to contribute to the state's development.

Otti said his administration sees education as one of the most important investments in Abia's future, and wants tertiary institutions to become centres of innovation, research and entrepreneurship. His goal, he said, is graduates who are problem-solvers, innovators and employers of labour, not just certificate holders.

What the new club is for

The New Abia Crusaders Club is meant to promote responsible leadership, integrity, service and good citizenship among students. The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Uche Eme-Uche, said it is an elite platform set up across federal, state and private institutions to bring students together under a common vision.

Otti urged the club's leadership to organise mentorship programmes, academic and innovation competitions, environmental initiatives and community development projects. Leadership, he told the students, begins with the choices they make and the influence they exert in their communities.

Eme-Uche also listed what she called the administration's gains in tertiary education: infrastructure development, better staff welfare, clearance of inherited salary arrears and restoration of lost accreditations. She said these had improved the environment for teaching, learning and research.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba, said sports remains a key tool for physical development, talent discovery, unity and career opportunities for young people. He said the fiesta was designed to go beyond medals.

Speaking for private universities, Professor Gabriel Okenwa, founder and pro-chancellor of Lux Mundi University, Umuahia, commended the governor's leadership in infrastructure, education and human capital development. He said good governance deserves recognition regardless of political affiliation.

The chairman of the central organising committee, Emeka Enyiazu, a special adviser to the governor on tertiary education, said the fiesta gives universities, polytechnics and colleges of education a common platform to showcase sporting talent and prepare athletes for national and international competitions.

The ceremony included the unveiling of the club, the swearing-in of athletes and officials, and a parade by representatives of the participating institutions. The fiesta was organised by the Ministries of Tertiary Education and Youth and Sports Development.

What happens next

The sporting competitions are expected to continue across the participating institutions, with organisers urging athletes to uphold fair play. The new club is also expected to begin its mentorship and community programmes in campuses across the state.