As a first-rate technocrat with enviable financial management endowments, Dr. Alex Otti’s much respected technical skills, professional pedigree are enough to help him navigate Abia State out of the stinking political murky waters it is presently swallowed in.
Names really must have meanings and taking a walk though history, it is evident that the name Alexander has been associated with great, courageous, bold people who made remarkable strides in their lifetimes and etched their names in the sands of time as kings, popes, emperors, soldiers, technocrats etc., people who charted the course of history for noble and selfless causes. Alex Otti is a man cut into this mould; a man whose technocratic skills and distinctions have stood him out everywhere he has been opportune to serve. Perhaps, the only dissimilarity with the rest of the aforementioned pack is his modest upbringing.
Born February 18, 1965 to the family of late Pastor and Mrs. Lazarus Weze Otti at Umuru, Umuehim village in Ehi Na Uguru Ancient Kingdom, Isiala Ngwa South LGA of Abia State where he began his primary education, Alex Otti completed his secondary school education at Ngwa High school, Aba and Secondary Technical School, Okpuala Ngwa in Abia State. Alex’s stellar performances in life can well be traced to his foundation of education, which has ensured excellence relentlessly dogs the entire life of the technocrat.
Finishing as the best student in his set during the school certificate examinations, Alex went on to graduate at the University of Port Harcourt in 1998 with a First Class honours degree in Economics, distinguishing himself as the best student of the Faculty of Social Sciences, as well as the Overall Best Graduating Student for that year, emerging the Valedictorian.
Otti also proved his mettle as news editor for the school newsletter, Uniport Mirror. He was treasurer of the University Chapter of the Nigerian Economic Students’ Association (NESA) in 1986 and subsequently became the president of the association the following year.
Alex Otti’s scholastic distinctions, dedication and focus are qualities which over the years have seen him take the financial world like a colossus. He was appointed Group Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank Plc. on March 1, 2011, from the position of Executive Director in First Bank Nigeria Plc (Head of Commercial Banking and Head of the Regional Businesses in the South-Southern and South-Eastern Geo-Political zones) from where he led Diamond Bank out of the shadows into a robust and leading retail bank in Nigeria,thus making the bank a more profitable and attractive one.
Highly respected for his wealth of knowledge, Otti is on the board of several companies and is also on the board of two of Nigeria’s leading universities. In 2009 he was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by Babcock University and in 2012, an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) Degree by the University of Port Harcourt.
Alex has scored a number of firsts also. He was honoured with the 1st USAfrica International Banker of the Year, in recognition of his outstanding and distinguished services to Nigeria and the world through banking in 2013 at the 20th Anniversary of USAfrica in Houston, presented by U.S Congressman Al Green.
An alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School, Otti has attended various international courses including the Executive Development Programmes of the Columbia Business and Stanford Business School and Wharton Business School (University of Pennsylvania).
Highly respected for his wealth of knowledge, Otti is on the board of several companies and is also on the board of two of Nigeria’s leading universities. In 2009 he was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by Babcock University and in 2012, an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) Degree by the University of Port Harcourt.
With the emergence of a fresh crop of technocrats in government across Nigeria, Dr. Alex Otti is substantially qualified with ample credibility to join the league of those interested in public service and leadership in Nigeria.
Otti was a gubernatorial candidate of Abia State on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
One may ask, do Abians really need another political engineer at this time?
On December 31st, 2015, the Court of Appeal located in Owerri removed Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party as governor of Abia State and declared Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance winner of the April 11 and April 25 supplementary elections in the state.
To many Abians and Nigerian progressives, this is a welcome situation whereby the truth, as expressed on April 11 and 25, finally put all lies to rest.
Some, perhaps more of the sinking camp, have cast aspersions on how Alex would grapple with the rough-and-tumble of partisan politics being a technocrat rather than a career politician.
One may ask, do Abians really need another political engineer at this time?
As a first-rate technocrat with enviable financial management endowments, Dr. Alex Otti’s much respected technical skills, professional pedigree are enough to help him navigate Abia State out of the stinking political murky waters it is presently swallowed in.
He is the catalytic factor.
Manny Ita writes from Umuahia, Abia State. (Premium Times)
