Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has conducted a significant reshuffle of his cabinet, creating six new ministries and assigning new commissioners to various portfolios. This move comes 15 months into his administration.
The reshuffle includes the appointment of David Kalu, Dr. Uwaoma Ukandu, and Prof. Enoch Uche to the newly established Ministries of Science, Technology and Innovation, Finance, and Health, respectively. Additionally, Sunny Onwuma has been assigned to head the newly created Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
Otti has also restructured existing ministries: the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy was separated from the Ministry of Information and Culture, with Matthew Ekwuribe as Commissioner. The Ministry of Education has been split into two separate entities—Ministry of Secondary and Basic Education and Ministry of Tertiary Education—with Goodluck Ubochi and Prof. Uche Eme Uche, respectively.
Further changes include the creation of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection from the Ministry of Women Affairs, with Dr. Maureen Aghukwa appointed as Commissioner. The Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Industry has been divided into the Ministry of Trade and Commerce and Ministry of Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises, with Kingsley Nwokocha and Mike Akpara leading the new ministries.
Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, previously Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Transport.
The Ministry of Agriculture remains without a Commissioner following Prof. Monica Ironkwe’s resignation on July 16.