The Abia State government has announced that schools in the state will resume for the 2024/2025 academic year on Wednesday, September 23. This decision follows a public holiday on September 16, which led to the postponement of the original resumption date.
State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu, made the announcement on Monday during a press briefing after the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu also noted that the state’s first teachers’ training program would continue from September 11 to 20, targeting the remaining 1,800 master trainers. Last week, 200 teachers were trained out of the planned 2,000. The training will be conducted across three locations in the state: Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia.
The training program is part of a broader initiative by the state government to enhance the education sector and ensure a smooth start to the academic year.
In addition to educational updates, Kanu announced that Abia State will participate in an international medical symposium in Ghana, aimed at improving healthcare delivery. This symposium, titled “Human Capital Opportunity for Prosperity and Equity,” is a joint initiative of the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Kanu also highlighted the state’s ongoing Light-Up Abia initiative, which aims to install solar panels across the state. To date, 4,346 solar panels have been installed at 86 locations, with plans to extend the project throughout the state to enhance security and improve living conditions.
Furthermore, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utility, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday, reported that the state electricity bill has passed its second reading in the state House of Assembly. The bill aims to establish the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority and the Abia State Rural Electrification Agency, and will also explore renewable and hydrogen energy sources for future power generation.