Abia Set to Host 1,000+ Paediatricians as Emetu Pledges Government Support for PANConf 2027

Umuahia, July 31, 2026 — Abia State is set to welcome more than 1,000 paediatricians and other healthcare professionals from across Nigeria and beyond as the state prepares to host the 58th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PANConf) in April 2027.

The State Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE, has assured the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) of the state government’s readiness to provide substantial financial and logistical support towards the successful hosting of the landmark conference.

Engr. Emetu gave the assurance on Friday when a high-level delegation of the PANConf 2027 Local Organizing Committee, led by its Chairman, Dr. Oluchi Mildred Izuka, paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Government House, Umuahia.

The Deputy Governor said the growing number of national professional organisations choosing Abia as a destination for major conferences was evidence of the transformation taking place across the state under the administration of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR.

He cited recent conferences hosted by professional bodies including the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals as examples of Abia’s emerging status as a preferred destination for national gatherings.

“The beauty of this is all about the development going on in Abia State. And I must say, it’s a positive problem that the state government has inherited,”

Engr. Emetu described the influx of major conferences into the state as a welcome challenge arising from Abia’s improving infrastructure, security and overall development.

Emetu Promises Budgetary Provision

Responding to the Local Organizing Committee’s request for financial support, the Deputy Governor said the timing of the presentation was particularly important as it would enable the government to make appropriate provisions in the 2027 budget.

He disclosed that he would immediately forward the proposal to Governor Otti and the Commissioner for Health to ensure that the conference receives the necessary consideration during the state’s budgetary process.

“Definitely, I will put my green pen on it so that the government will be able to come maybe halfway to support PAN. I will minute this to His Excellency and also to the Honourable Commissioner for Health so it will be captured in the budget,”

The Deputy Governor also urged PAN to work closely with the Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency and health authorities across the state’s 17 Local Government Areas to ensure that the benefits of the conference extend beyond the conference venue.

He specifically called for greater collaboration in strengthening grassroots paediatric healthcare delivery through the state’s network of primary healthcare centres.

“We also want PAN to try as much as possible to have a proper handshake with the state council for primary healthcare and also in all our 17 local governments where we have all our primary healthcare centres littered across the state.”

Historic Victory for Abia

Earlier, the Chairman of the PANConf 2027 Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Oluchi Mildred Izuka, said the decision to bring the conference to Abia represented a historic achievement for the state and the Association’s local chapter.

According to her, Abia had never hosted the PAN annual conference in the 57 years of the Association’s existence until it successfully won the bid to host the 58th edition.

She attributed the successful bid to the increasing national recognition of the state’s transformation under the Otti administration, particularly in infrastructure, security and healthcare.

“For 57 years, we have not been able to achieve this milestone. For the first time, we have won the bid to host PANConf in Abia State.”

Dr. Izuka said the victory demonstrated that Nigerians were taking notice of the changes taking place across the state.

The five-day conference is scheduled for April 19–23, 2027, with more than 1,000 delegates expected to attend.

Free Paediatric Healthcare Training for Abia

Beyond the scientific sessions, the conference is expected to leave a lasting capacity-building legacy in Abia’s healthcare system.

The first two days will feature pre-conference workshops, including Helping Babies Breathe and Neonatal Resuscitation Training, targeted at more than 200 Community Health Extension Workers.

The training will be provided free of charge by PAN as part of its contribution to the host state.

Healthcare professionals at the secondary and tertiary levels will also benefit from training in Basic Life Support and Paediatric Advanced Life Support.

The organisers believe the capacity-building initiatives will strengthen the ability of healthcare workers to respond effectively to emergencies involving newborns, infants and children.

Abia’s Story to Take Centre Stage

Dr. Izuka further explained that PANConf 2027 would provide an important platform for showcasing Abia State to thousands of visitors from across Nigeria and beyond.

In addition to the state’s healthcare achievements, delegates will have an opportunity to experience Abia’s peaceful environment, cultural heritage, tourism attractions and the globally recognised Made-in-Aba products.

The Local Organizing Committee consequently presented a detailed budget to the Deputy Governor and appealed for financial and logistical support from the state government to ensure that Abia delivers a conference befitting its new profile.

‘They Want to Experience Abia’

In his vote of thanks, the Secretary of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Alex Nwosu, expressed appreciation to the Deputy Governor for the warm reception and the administration’s commitment to supporting the conference.

He commended the leadership of Governor Otti, describing the transformation taking place in the state as a development that has renewed the confidence and pride of Abians.

Dr. Nwosu recalled the excitement that followed Abia’s successful bid to host the conference at the Association’s meeting in Abeokuta in January.

According to him, the bid victory has generated considerable interest among Nigerians who are eager to visit the state and see its transformation for themselves.

“The stories are out there. They want to experience Abia. And this was made possible by the distinguished leadership of this state under Dr. Alex Otti, whom you work in tandem with.”

The PANConf delegation included members of the Local Organizing Committee, while aides to the Deputy Governor and Directors of Administration and Protocol were also present.

With the state government’s commitment to supporting the event and PAN’s promise of free specialised training for healthcare workers, the 2027 conference is expected to combine professional development with a broader opportunity to showcase Abia’s emerging transformation to a national audience.