As part of preparations for the 2025 International Youth Day celebration, the Abia State Government has rolled out a series of impactful initiatives aimed at empowering young people and transforming the state’s infrastructure.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, announced during the weekly briefing in Umuahia that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, is set to host a week-long celebration from August 6–12. Activities include a Youth Assembly, Symposium, and Interstate Youth Exchange Visits.
In line with youth empowerment, 1,200 Abia youths have been onboarded into the second cohort of the Fashion Future Skills Acquisition Programme in garments and leather works. The programme, supported by over $3 million from the MasterCard Foundation, is part of a strategic partnership between the state government and Ethnocentric Ltd.
The government also launched the Abia Creative Talent Hunt, a bold initiative to discover and support local talents in music and innovation.
In a major boost to transportation, the Executive Council approved an increase in the number of electric buses to be procured from 20 to 40, with charging stations rising from 10 to 20. The first batch of 20 buses is expected in November, with 12 designated for Aba, 8 for Umuahia, and some later serving the Ohafia–Bende axis. Bus terminals and shelters are currently under construction in key cities.
Inclusion remains a priority as the state has procured a wheelchair-accessible bus to support physically challenged athletes ahead of the International Sports Championship, set to hold from September 3 to October 12, 2025.
Prince Kanu also disclosed that Abia-born Falconets who recently returned to their European clubs will be specially received by Governor Alex Otti later this year.
