Governor Otti Reports 300,000 Enrolment in Abia Public Schools Within One Year

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has revealed that the number of students enrolled in public primary and secondary schools in the state has skyrocketed by over 100%, climbing from approximately 117,000 to upwards of 300,000 within the span of a year.

Otti made this announcement during his monthly press briefing at the Government House in Umuahia on Thursday evening.

He attributed the remarkable increase to various reforms initiated by his administration, which are designed to make education more accessible and affordable for all residents.

"We will persist in our efforts to ensure that education is available and affordable for every citizen living here," he stated.

The governor emphasized that the positive outcomes reported by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education confirm that the enrolment figure has grown from around 117,000 to over 300,000 by the end of the previous month.

"That is precisely the type of outcome we anticipated. It is certainly heralding good news," he remarked.

In addition to education, Governor Otti spoke about ongoing renovation and reconstruction efforts at key institutions such as Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu, the Abia State College of Education (Technical) in Arochukwu, and Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic in Aba, among others. He stated that hostels, offices, and various academic facilities are being constructed and refurbished, with work ongoing at both temporary and permanent sites of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic.

The governor noted that parts of renovated hostels at ABSU are already in use.

He also highlighted that the government is in the process of recruiting 4,000 additional teachers, which is part of the broader commitment to enhance the education sector.

In terms of infrastructure, Otti mentioned that over 30 roads are either under construction or undergoing repairs, with several projects nearing completion. He shared that the famous Omenuko Bridge and the Abam–Okobo–Amuvi–Arochukwu Road are scheduled for inauguration on February 13.

Furthermore, plans are in place to reconstruct the Uratta Road and the Old Express Road to rejuvenate Aba, the commercial center of Abia State. The governor announced that the Pocket Layout Housing Scheme for civil servants has moved beyond planning and will soon be launched, alongside other housing initiatives in Mbaisii, Mgbarakuma, and Ubakala.

In the realm of tourism, Otti unveiled a partnership with Amena Tourism and Hospitality Ltd, aimed at utilizing GPS to digitally grade and review hotels and hospitality services throughout Abia according to global standards.

Additionally, he introduced a pilot biogas project at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Umudike, which seeks to convert waste into renewable energy. He reported that the State Electricity Regulation Authority had assumed responsibility for regulating electricity distribution from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission as of December 24 of the previous year, a move aimed at achieving energy sufficiency through the planned acquisition of the Umuahia Ringed Fence Area.

On health initiatives, Otti mentioned the completion of the Project Ekwueme Phase One, which encompasses 200 Primary Healthcare Centres, many of which are already operational. The recruitment of over 600 healthcare professionals for deployment across various facilities has taken place.

He announced the construction of a new General Hospital in Ndoki, Ukwa East Local Government Area, made possible by land donated by the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries, with expectations for its completion by the year's end.

Reconstruction work is ongoing at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, the Abia Specialist Hospital at Amachara, and the tertiary health facility at Umunneato. Concerning water supply, he noted that the CKC Water Project in Aba is nearing completion, alongside similar projects in Ariaria and parts of Umuahia.

Governor Otti further mentioned that the water project at Abia State College of Education (Technical) in Arochukwu is over 90% finished and is expected to benefit the surrounding communities as well. He extended his appreciation to the people of Abia and security agencies for maintaining peace during the festive season and affirmed that feedback from visitors and residents has been overwhelmingly positive.

(NAN)