Gov. Otti approves land for bankers training institute in Abia, speaks on ‘Japa’ syndrome 

Governor  Alex Otti of Abia State  has approved land for the building of bankers training institute in Abia State.

The Governor gave the approval on Tuesday 23rd July, in his country home of Umuehim Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local government Area when he received in audience the Executives of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) who paid him a working visit.

Responding to one of the demands of CIBN for a land to build a training institute in Abia, Governor Otti said, “The request for land to build the secretariat is in order and we are going to accede to the request. I will ask the Principal Secretary to engage with the Honourable Commissioner for Land and Housing to identify a suitable place for the Secretariat to be erected”.

Governor Otti called on the CIBN to subscribe to the two State-of-the-Art New Smart Cities his administration is planning to build, one in Aba and the other in Umuahia. He said the new cities will be so sophisticated that everyone will want to live there.

He also disclosed that there will be low cost housing estates conducive for living for those who may not be able to afford the high cost ones.

Addressing one of the concerns raised by the CIBN which has to do with the JAPA syndrome – a common parlance used to described those running to foreign lands from NIgeria in search of greener pastures, Dr. Otti said that it is something that requires the leaders in the country to put on their thinking cap and develop programmes and policies that will throw up opportunities comparable to the ones that attract Nigerians to foreign lands.

In his words, “ ‘JAPA’ syndrome is actually the reality that faces us. You cannot legislate it, you cannot do anything about it. Once your economy and your system don’t look conducive or doesn’t look attractive or if other economies are looking better than yours, you must have the right policies to attract young talented people, they will go there, no matter what you do.

“So, the only response you have is to create the enabling environment, create jobs for them and encourage them to stay back”.

“It’s a demand and supply situation. That demand and supply is a very interesting concept from economics it has gone to everywhere. If demand is higher than supply, prices will go up. If your prices go up, demand will go down. So that is how it is”.

“So it behooves on us who form the leadership cadre in the country to put on our thinking caps and come out with solutions to the JAPA syndrome”.

Earlier in their address to the Governor, the Public Relations Officer of CIBN, Mr. Kelechi Adiele said that they came to identify with one of their own and discuss various ways of deepening the relationship between the CIBN, the Bankers Committee and the State. They commended Governor Otti for his visible and verifiable achievements within a short period in office which has enhanced the productivity and the economy of the State.   

“Sir, first of all, we want to thank you for the environment that you have made very conducive for banking activities to take place in Abia State; from the road infrastructure which has greatly improved in your tenure to the Security architecture that you have put in place to make banking easier and life easier for bankers in Abia State”.

“For instance, prior to your taking over as the Governor of Abia State, banks in Abia State were not working on Mondays. This had affected negatively both the turnover of these banks and even the personal security of bankers who more or less had to sneak into the office on Mondays, but today, we move freely even on Mondays”. Mr. Adiele stated.

They commended Governor Otti for his efforts in the economic arena, which they said has helped to improve employment generation and drive the economy forward through various empowerment progammes.

“These programmes have helped the banks because banks depend on money as the flow of cash is actually the engine of banking”,  Mr. Adiele asserted.

Among the Executives of the CIBN that visited Governor Otti are Mr. Olatunji Olaoba, CBN Branch Controller, Umuahia and Chairman Bankers Committee Abia State, Lady Roseline Chinenye Ogalabu, Chairman CIBN Abia State Branch, Mr. Ogbuagu Camillus Ogbonnaya, Assistant Director CBN and First Vice Chairman CIBN, Dr. Chiavoghilefu, Regional Manager of EcoBank and Treasurer CIBN and a host of others.    

The Governor was joined by his Senior Special Assistant on Finance Dr. Anthony Nwaubani, Principal Secretary and Chief strategist to Abia State Government, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzokwu, Technical Assistant to the Governor, Dr. Charles Egonye and ot