Zambians’ and South Africans’ applications for jobs in Abia healthcare sector, shows growing confidence in Abia State health reforms, says Governor Alex Otti.
Abia State’s plan to recruit 771 medical professionals has attracted applicants from outside Nigeria, including Zambia and South Africa, in what Governor Alex Otti describes as a vote of confidence in his administration’s health reforms.
Speaking during his monthly media chat at the Government House in Umuahia on Thursday, Otti said the recruitment drive had drawn widespread interest from both within and beyond the state. He emphasized that the hiring process would remain strictly merit-based, with tests designed to select the most qualified doctors, nurses, and other health professionals.
“We are encouraged by the interest we have seen, even from beyond Nigeria,” Otti said. “It shows that our efforts to improve healthcare delivery in Abia are being noticed.”
The governor announced that additional Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) have been made operational across the state to expand access to basic medical care. To ensure round-the-clock service, his administration plans to provide accommodation for medical personnel assigned to these facilities.
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Otti also outlined broader initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s economy and improving quality of life. On agriculture, he said Abia is helping local farmers transition from subsistence to commercial-scale production, a policy he believes will boost food security and reduce rural-to-urban migration.
A technology-based system has been introduced to identify and monitor genuine farmers across the state. According to the governor, about 45,000 farmers have been enumerated under the program so far.
In the education sector, Otti reported significant progress at the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, where all 33 courses—many of which had previously lost accreditation—have now been fully re-accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Otti framed these developments as part of his broader agenda to rebuild public trust and make Abia an attractive destination for skilled professionals.
“The fact that people from other states and even from outside Nigeria are applying for jobs here tells us that Abia is becoming a place where people believe in the future,” he said.
The recruitment of medical personnel is expected to bolster healthcare delivery in a state that, like many parts of Nigeria, faces shortages of doctors and nurses in rural areas.
