Abia State Approves Second Phase Of Teachers Recruitment

The Abia State Executive Council, chaired by Governor Alex Otti, has approved another phase of teachers’ recruitment to accommodate those who missed the initial round.

Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, stated that the recruitment will help build a reliable database of qualified teachers.
This move is in response to rising school enrolment due to the state’s free education policy.

Kanu warned school heads still collecting fees in violation of the free education policy to desist, emphasizing that government provides monthly imprest for school operations as Offenders will face legal consequences.

He revealed that over 7,000 applicants who scored 45% and above, along with 180 persons with disabilities, were shortlisted after interviews held from March 31 to April 4.Candidates who scored 40–44% were placed on a reserve list. A 30-member expert panel, including professors, PhD holders, and senior educators, conducted the interviews.

“Candidates who scored between 40 and 44 percent were placed on a reserve list, to address the possible short falls that may arise due to absenteeism or disqualification.

“It is worthy to note that a 30-man panel compromising 6 professors, 16 PhD holders , and very senior educationists from Abia State  University, Uturu, Micheal Okpara University, Umudike, the Colleges of Education in the state, retired permanent secretaries, etc participated in the interview.

“It is an indication that the very high standards set at the beginning of the teachers recruitment exercise have been maintained all through. Additionally, the state’s interpreter or sign language expert was on hand to help out those with disabilities,” Prince Kanu stated.

He disclosed that education consultants, Education Reformation and Innovation Team (ERIT ) would be training about 2, 200 Abia teachers across the state and said that it is part of the ongoing reforms in the state’s education sector.

He added that the large- scale training initiative is designed to enhance teaching quality and improve learning outcomes  in the public schools and would take place between April 10th and 19th 2025 in three centres located across the three Senatorial Zones of the state in Aba for Abia South , Umuahia for Abia Central and Ohafia for Abia North.

Addressing recent security issues, Kanu confirmed investigations into the killing of two Chinese nationals and a police officer by bandits in the Uturu area.
Authorities are exploring the motive, noting it didn’t follow a typical kidnapping pattern.

“Immediately that happened, the police swung into action and rescued the rest of the members of the traveling team.

“The state security agencies are investigating the incident to unravel the motives of the bandits since” the incident wasn’t like a typical kidnap incident” Prince Kanu explained.

The council also plans to unveil a new policy to boost the production and patronage of Made-in-Abia goods and services. Details will be made public in the coming weeks.

The state government has therefore set out to introduce a new economic and business policy framework that will promote local content,Made – in – Abia product.

“This policy when fully operational would make it possible that all goods and services obtainable in the state would not be procured from outside the state.

“This is a bold reaction to the unraveling of both the national and global economies and the resultant economic headwinds and headline inflation prevalent in the country .

“As a forward thinking government,the Abia state Government is deliberate about the management of its local economy in order to boost the production of goods and services responsible for the overall health of the state’s economy,” Prince Kanu stated.

He recalled that Governor Otti recently played host to a group called Ethnorcentrique Limited, an indigenous company involved in the promotion of handmade fabrics, particularly the Akwete fabric, where he promised to promote it and it’s use in the state.

He added that the new policy framework that centres around the purchase of Made-in-Abia goods has been put together to promote such goods and services.

Approval was also given for the construction of a General Hospital in Ukwa East LGA. A project team will soon visit the area to finalize the site.

Prince Kanu said a project team would be arriving at the LGA soon to reconfirm the location for the project and further said that the new general hospitals being constructed or reconstructed in Arochukwu, Okeikpe, Obingwa and Ikwuano are all progressing well.

The Information boss reminded the public that the official launch of  the Formal Sector Health Insurance Scheme would be launched by Governor Alex Otti on Thursday this week at the International Conference Center, Umuahia by 2:00 pm .

He also announced that the Sound Intervention Hearing Mission 2025 would be launched by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR together with Governor Alex Otti on the same day, time and venue.

He also reminded the public that the commissioning of the 45km Umuahia – Uzuakoli- Akara- Alayi- Abiriba road which was postponed last week will now be held on Friday,April 11 ,2025, while the Former President Olusegun Obasanjo would be on hand to commission it.

Contributing, the Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, said that the upcoming recruitment exercise will focus particularly on technical and vocational subjects, where teacher shortages are most acute, pointing out that many individuals with expertise in certain areas not covered in the existing teacher database would be considered.

He clarified that the state government’s free and compulsory education policy applies only to primary and junior secondary levels, saying that those of SS1 to SS3 are to pay a reduced tuition fee of N3,300 only.

The Commissioner noted that the surge in student and pupils numbers has placed additional pressure on available teaching staff, and added that the government aims at building a “data bank” of qualified teachers who can be deployed when needed, to avoid the delays experienced in the past.