American independent charismatic prophetess, author, speaker, and co-founder of Generals International, Cindy Jacobs, has said that Abia State Governor Alex Otti is divinely positioned to become a model for leadership and governance in the region.

Jacobs made the remarks on Saturday during the National Thanksgiving Worship Service held at The Father’s House Church in Jahi, Abuja, where Governor Otti attended as a guest of the organisers.

The preacher, who returned to Nigeria for the first time in 23 years alongside her husband, Mike Jacobs, said she had a vision of widespread road construction projects across Abia State. According to her, the projects would connect rural communities and improve the movement of farm produce to markets.

She also stated that she saw God providing the financial resources required to complete the infrastructure projects.

“God is going to begin to give you finances for infrastructure. I see literal supernatural finances that will enable farmers to market their produce,” she said.

“I see roads being built from the villages to places where they need to sell their produce. I don’t know anything about where you are, but I just see that God wants you to be a model.”

Jacobs further declared that Otti would implement policies capable of transforming Abia into one of the most educated states in the region, adding that education would help lift many residents out of poverty.

“God wants you to be a prototype of what can be done in the region when God is exalted,” she said.

“And the Lord also showed me that you’re going to be able to put some policies in place that will begin to make your state known as one of the most educated. I see you building schools and strengthening teacher education in particular.

“And so, God is going to help you raise people out of poverty, and education will take them out of poverty. God is going to do this.”

Responding to the remarks, Governor Otti said his administration had consistently devoted 35 per cent of the state’s annual budget to education and healthcare since assuming office, with 20 per cent allocated to education and 15 per cent to healthcare.

He described the prophetess as “speaking in the spirit” and revealed that his administration had already recruited 5,394 teachers in the first phase of its employment exercise, while plans were underway to recruit another 4,000 teachers.

The governor also announced that three newly constructed smart schools would be commissioned before the end of the month.

“And before the end of this month, we are commissioning three brand-new smart schools we built,” Otti said.

Addressing the congregation, Otti stressed the importance of leaders living by the values they preach, noting that leadership is fundamentally about service. He added that people pay more attention to the actions of leaders than to their words.

He also emphasised that while fasting and prayers remain important, righteousness is essential for national progress, warning that wrongdoing weakens the impact of prayers.

The National Thanksgiving Worship Service, which is still ongoing at The Father’s House Church, is an interdenominational gathering organised to pray for Nigeria, particularly for an end to killings and violence linked to terrorism and banditry. The programme also focuses on prayers for healing and national progress.

The event drew religious leaders from different countries, with Cindy Jacobs serving as the lead guest preacher.

Former Minister of Education, economic policy expert, and activist Oby Ezekwesili, alongside her husband, Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili, who were among the organisers of the event, also praised Governor Otti, describing him as a bright example of good governance in Nigeria.