Abia State Government Engages On Institutional Reforms And School Transformation Aimed At Introducing Innovative Solutions In Education Sector
Abia State Government (ABSG) says it aims to build confidence, foster innovation and bring about transformation in education sector with it’s AbiaFIRST programme billed to be officially launched tomorrow.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi disclosed this Tuesday, during a press conference held at Government House Umuahia to herald the official launch of the AbiaFIRST education programme at Government House Umuahia. He said that AbiaFIRST stands for Abia Fostering Innovation and Reform for School Transformation.
According to the Commissioner, the event which would take place at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, encompasses state of art infrastructural development in the education sector, advanced digital learning processes, comprehensive teachers development programmes, innovative curriculum design and modern vocational training centers among others
The Commissioner said that the programme aligns with Governor Otti’s vision to prepare Abia students in basic and secondary schools to be skilled participants in the global village.
“This comprehensive education transformation initiative aligns with Governor Alex Chioma Otti’s vision to intentionally prepare our citizens to be skilled participants in the global village.
“This transformation is being implemented through a strategic partnership between
the Abia State Government and the Education Reform and Innovation Team
(ERIT)—a consortium of accomplished education experts, innovators, and
transformation agents,”
“The AbiaFIRST programme represents a holistic approach to education
transformation, encompassing, Early Childhood Development, Basic Education Enhancement, Secondary School Reform, Technical and Vocational Training, Digital Learning Integration, Career Education, Community Engagement,” Elder Ubochi stated.
He also said that the AbiaFIRST would focus on institutional reform and school transformation, introducing innovative solutions such as: Digital Learning Platforms, A Comprehensive Curriculum Framework, Teacher Professional Development, Enhanced TVET Programmes, Robust Monitoring and Evaluation Systems
Elder Ubochi spoke more about the launch,
“This launch event showcases our achievements to date and outlines the roadmap for transforming education in Abia State, creating an inclusive, equitable, and future-ready learning environment that will empower our students to become skilled, confident, and globally minded individuals,” Elder Ubochi highlighted.
He disclosed that the initiative is being implemented through a strategic partnership with the Education Reform and Innovation Team (ERIT)—a consortium of renowned education experts, innovators, and change agents dedicated to transforming learning environments across the State.
He further informed that the state government has already trained 200 lead master trainers and 2,000 master teachers who would drive a training model aimed at reaching over 9,000 teachers across the state.
He highlighted the importance of community participation and urged parents, educators, and stakeholders to engage in the reform process noting that the state government is building an education system that will drive sustainable growth in our local
communities and beyond”.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education and Chairman of the AbiaFIRST Organizing Committee, Sir Kenechukwu Nwosu, emphasized the importance of the programme and what the government hopes to achieve with the launch of the programme.
“The transformation is the key thing that we are aiming to achieve with reasonable delivery rules and timelines. By the time we complete the first quarter of this year and move into the second quarter, there are critical things that we ought to have achieved,” Nwosu stated.
He also noted that the AbiaFIRST launch seeks to attract investors and partners willing to contribute to the state’s educational advancement, ensuring sustainable growth in the sector.
Speaking further, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education Mrs Uchechukwu Kanu, emphasized the structural and administrative reforms accompanying the initiative and noted that the government has established an inter-agency coordination mechanism to streamline communication between educational bodies. This, she said, will ensure seamless implementation and effective oversight of the program.
She further noted that the AbiaFIRST initiative will focus on strengthening early childhood education, enhancing basic and secondary education, expanding technical and vocational training, integrating digital learning tools, and fostering community engagement. The program also prioritizes teacher professional development, performance monitoring, and administrative restructuring to enhance efficiency in the education sector.
Contributing, the Team Lead of the Education Reform and Innovation Team (ERIT), who provided insights into the groundwork that has shaped the ambitious project such as AbiaFIRST, revealed that the reform team has been working in Abia State since 2023, conducting extensive researches and engagements with key stakeholders.
“We visited schools across the state, inspected facilities, tested teachers and students, and engaged with communities to understand their needs. The insights gathered from this baseline assessment have directly informed the policies and strategies that will be implemented under AbiaFIRST,” she explained.
Mrs. Osime, who is an experienced education manager said that,
“This is the first time an education reform of this scale is being undertaken by any government in Nigeria,”
Abiakam Gloria Ify HOC, FIC Umuahia,Abia State.
25 – 02 – 2025.
