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.

Abia State has taken another significant step toward becoming Nigeria’s emerging pharmaceutical manufacturing hub, as Governor Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, pledged the full support of his administration to Utopia Pharmaceuticals, a leading Egyptian pharmaceutical company planning to establish a drug manufacturing plant in the state.

The commitment was made on Tuesday, July 22, 2026, when Governor Otti received a high-powered delegation from the Egypt-based pharmaceutical firm at Government House, Umuahia. The delegation was led by Eze Apostle Gift Chibuzor Chinyere, who facilitated the investment mission, alongside the company’s Chairman, Dr. Kamel Mohamed.

Governor Otti described the proposed investment as a strategic development that aligns with his administration’s industrialization agenda, emphasizing that his government prioritizes investments that stimulate production rather than mere commercial distribution.

According to the Governor, establishing a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Abia would create employment opportunities, boost the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reduce poverty, and encourage technology transfer.

“We are very happy with your presentation. I am particularly pleased that you are looking at setting up a production plant and not just selling products. Production generates economic activities, creates jobs, improves the GDP of the state, reduces poverty, and encourages technology transfer,” Governor Otti stated.

He assured the investors that the Abia State Government would provide every necessary support to ensure the successful establishment of the manufacturing facility.

Governor Otti recommended the Ukwa and Osisioma industrial corridors as suitable locations for the proposed factory, citing their strategic advantages, including reliable gas supply and stable electricity provided by Geometric Power.

He also assured the delegation that land acquisition would not be an obstacle, noting that his administration is prepared to facilitate access to land for the project.

The Governor further expressed confidence that community relations would be effectively coordinated through Eze Apostle Gift Chibuzor Chinyere, ensuring a smooth implementation process.

To accelerate the investment process, Governor Otti directed the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, to continue technical engagements with the company and provide all necessary government support required to bring the project to reality.

Speaking during the meeting, Eze Apostle Gift Chibuzor Chinyere explained that he chose to introduce Utopia Pharmaceuticals to Abia because of Governor Otti’s commitment to healthcare development and his investor-friendly policies.

He disclosed that before leaving Nigeria, the company would conduct a pilot presentation of its anti-malaria pharmaceutical products in the state.

Chairman of Utopia Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Kamel Mohamed, said the company is seeking a strategic partnership with the Abia State Government to establish a world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing plant capable of serving Nigeria and the wider West African market.

He revealed that the company already benefits from an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the Egyptian Government and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on pharmaceutical registration, making collaboration easier.

Dr. Mohamed noted that Utopia has successfully implemented similar pharmaceutical manufacturing projects in countries such as Tanzania and believes Abia possesses the right leadership and investment climate for another successful venture.

“Our goal is not just to manufacture medicines but to position Nigeria as a hub for advanced pharmaceutical technology in Africa,” he said.

The proposed investment represents another milestone in Governor Otti’s drive to transform Abia into a preferred destination for manufacturing, healthcare innovation, and industrial investment.

Beyond increasing access to quality medicines, the pharmaceutical plant is expected to create skilled jobs, stimulate local industries, expand exports, attract additional foreign direct investment, and strengthen Abia’s position as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing investment destinations.

The Abia State Government has renewed its commitment to protecting citizens from the dangers of fake and substandard medicines, with the Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE, assuring that the administration of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, will deploy every necessary measure to sanitise the pharmaceutical sector and strengthen healthcare delivery.

Engr. Emetu gave the assurance when he received the leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Abia State Branch, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Umuahia.

The visit provided an opportunity for the professional body to present a comprehensive memorandum containing proposals aimed at reforming pharmaceutical practice, improving drug distribution, and addressing challenges confronting the sector in the state.

One of the major highlights of the engagement was the PSN’s proposal for the establishment of a Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC), an initiative the Deputy Governor described as a strategic solution to the persistent challenge of fake and unregulated medicines.

According to Engr. Emetu, the centre would create a structured drug distribution system where only licensed and verified pharmaceutical operators would participate, thereby reducing the activities of illegal drug vendors and protecting residents from harmful medicines.

“The proposal is an eye-opener. Rather than chasing the problem endlessly, we must adopt a strategic approach that will effectively eliminate the menace of fake drugs and quack medicine vendors. A Coordinated Wholesale Centre will enable us regulate drug distribution more effectively and identify genuine operators in the pharmaceutical sector.”

The Deputy Governor disclosed that the memorandum would be presented before the next Abia State Security Council meeting, noting that tackling counterfeit medicines requires a coordinated effort involving government, security agencies, regulatory institutions, and professional associations.

He expressed concern over the growing health complications associated with fake and improperly dispensed medicines, including cases requiring dialysis and other critical medical interventions.

Engr. Emetu maintained that the Alex Otti administration remains determined to enforce stronger regulatory measures and professional standards to ensure that residents have access to safe and quality medicines.

Strengthening Pharmaceutical Education and Workforce

The Deputy Governor also highlighted the importance of strengthening pharmaceutical education in the state, particularly the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu.

He described the faculty as critical to producing the skilled manpower required to support a modern healthcare system, assuring the PSN delegation that he would engage Governor Alex Otti on issues surrounding its accreditation.

He further promised to discuss increased recruitment of pharmacists into public health facilities and the implementation of the Pharmacist Consultancy Cadre to improve professional pharmaceutical services across the state.

Describing pharmacists as critical partners in healthcare delivery, Engr. Emetu said quality medicines and professional pharmaceutical care remain essential components of effective treatment.

“A surgeon cannot successfully carry out an operation without pharmaceutical products. If the pharmaceutical component of healthcare is neglected, the patient’s condition could become worse than when they came to the hospital. That is why this administration will continue to strengthen pharmaceutical services and ensure that only qualified professionals are entrusted with the sale and distribution of medicines in Abia State.”

PSN Commends Otti Administration’s Healthcare Reforms

Earlier, the Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Abia State Branch, Pharm. Chinedu Urukwem, presented the society’s memorandum, which contained recommendations for improving pharmaceutical practice and healthcare delivery.

He commended Governor Otti’s administration for increased investment in health and education, recruitment of healthcare workers, and ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning critical sectors.

Among the requests presented by the society were support for the accreditation of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at ABSU, recruitment of more pharmacists, implementation of the Pharmacist Consultancy Cadre, inclusion of pharmacists in healthcare management boards, operationalisation of the Abia State Drug Management Agency, establishment of a Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) Board, support for the Coordinated Wholesale Centre, provision of a permanent secretariat for PSN, and incentives to attract pharmaceutical manufacturing companies to Aba.

The Vice Chairman of PSN, Abia State Branch, Pharm. Nnamdi Amechi, also praised the government’s reforms and urged continued collaboration between the state and pharmacists to eliminate fake drugs and improve healthcare outcomes.

He expressed optimism that sustained partnership between the Abia State Government and PSN would position the state as a leading destination for pharmaceutical excellence in Nigeria.