Abia Records First-Ever Annual School Census As Government Prepares 25-Year Development Plan
Abia State has achieved a major milestone in its education sector with the successful completion of its first statewide annual school census, capturing reliable data from 4,150 schools, 1,687,326 learners and 45,151 staff across the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this during a press briefing at Government House, Umuahia.
Prince Kanu noted that although some private school proprietors were reluctant to release enrollment details, the exercise recorded significant progress, including the distribution of 1,221 Android tablets to school heads and data officers.
“For the first time, all schools uploaded their data digitally via the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) platform,” he said.
He further announced that the State’s adult and non-formal education programme is now fully operational, giving citizens a fresh opportunity to learn and become employable.
The Commissioner also revealed that Abia State Government will soon unveil its 25-Year Growth Development Plan, a future-proof document that will guide the state’s developmental trajectory across short-, medium- and long-term phases.
According to him, the plan will include funding pathways and will be backed by appropriate legislation to guarantee continuity regardless of changes in political leadership.
Prince Kanu confirmed that the State’s Materials Testing Laboratory has been fully installed and will soon be commissioned, a facility aimed at checking substandard construction and preventing building collapses across the state.
On infrastructure, the Commissioner stated that the Ministry of Works is executing direct-labour projects in 50 locations, with five completed and seven new projects recently added.
Completed works include:
- 2.1km internal roads at Federal Medical Centre
- Road 11, Low-Cost Housing Estate
- Bende–Itumbuzo Road Phase 1
- Enugu–Ugwu Road and World Bank Housing Estate roads
- Health Centre Road, World Bank Housing Estate, Umuahia
Newly added projects include upgrades on Ikonne Street, Aba, Nzeadibe Street, Umuahia, and a road at Mater Dei Catholic Cathedral, among others. Contractors have been directed to maximise the dry season to accelerate completion.
The Abia State Government has also urged the public to disregard false narratives surrounding the revocation of Abia Hotels Limited, Umuahia.
Prince Okey Kanu clarified that social media claims by Investment Guarantee Limited, the former investor in the property, were misleading. He stressed that the government fully compensated the co-investor, Barr. Randy Obinna Ukanwoko, and has since taken lawful possession of the hotel.
Speaking further, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma explained that the investor breached every term of the agreement. He said the government still opted for discussion and negotiation out of empathy and fairness, not because the investor was right.
Mr. Agomuo, General Manager of UCDA, revealed that the state paid the investor ₦450 million in October, after which the property was sealed three weeks later. He added that the investor violated the MOU he signed with the previous administration by upgrading structures without obtaining regulatory approvals.
He also disclosed that Barr. Ukanwoko misled co-investors by claiming he had not received compensation, despite asking government not to disclose the amount paid to him.
“Since he has gone to the media, it is important to state the truth,” Agomuo said.
Present at the briefing were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, and the General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), Mr. Kingsley Agomuo.
