REPORTER: PEACE AGBO
A Steering Committee to ensure the safety of educational institutions and protection of school children as well as teachers in Abia State has been inaugurated by the state government.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu who announced this while briefing Journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti said the decision followed the growing security concerns nationwide.
Prince Kanu said the initiative aligns with the State Government’s commitment to ensuring a secure and conducive learning environment for pupils and students at all levels of education.
According to him, the Committee will serve as a multi-sectoral platform responsible for coordinating the State-level implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration, develop and monitor safety and protection protocols for schools and engage key Stakeholders across Humanitarian, Civil society groups, the Security and Education sector.
The Commissioner who announced the schools resumption of 2025/2026 academic year said that significant progress has been recorded on the State’s Smart School Projects with plans to inaugurate two completed Smart Schools next month.
While giving an update on the Second Phase of the Teachers’ Recruitment Exercise in the state, Prince Kanu said 28,213 applications were received for the expected 4000 teaching vacancies in the state.
According to him, applicants are currently concluding the verification of their submissions, after which they will sit for the Computer-Based Tests (CBT), with successful candidates proceeding to interviews.
Prince Kanu also highlighted major digital reforms undertaken by the present administration in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Information Officer to include the establishment of a Document Digitization Bureau for land records.
He listed other reforms to include, a centralised Online Recruitment Platform, the redesign of the Abia State Government website, and the rollout of an e-Health project in Six Pilot Hospitals.
He added that laptops have been procured and distributed to senior government officials as part of efforts to fully digitalise government operations.
