Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has formed a specialized committee aimed at recovering 180 alienated and encumbered public schools within the state.
This strategic initiative underscores the government’s commitment to reclaiming and revitalizing educational institutions that have been misappropriated or neglected over the years.
The formation of the committee was announced by the Information Commissioner, Okey Kanu, during a press briefing at the Government House in Umuahia, following the weekly State Executive Council meeting. The committee will be chaired by the Chief of Staff, Caleb Ajagba, with the Education Commissioner, Eme Uche-Eme, serving as the secretary.
The committee membership is comprehensive, including high-ranking officials such as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwana, and the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Chaka Chukwumerije.
Other members are the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzo Nwachukwu, the General Manager of Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), Kingsley Agomuoh, the General Manager of Greater Aba Development Agency (GADA), Uche Ukeje, and the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, Ken Nwosu.
“The committee’s mandate is clear: identify and recover approximately 180 alienated and encumbered schools across the state,” stated Mr. Kanu. He emphasized the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards the exploitation of school lands by a privileged few who have surreptitiously acquired these properties over time.
As part of the broader education sector reforms, the state government has also condemned the misuse of schools that have been handed over to missions and various organizations. “Schools must be used exclusively for educational activities,” Mr. Kanu asserted, adding that organizations unable to properly manage these schools are advised to return them to the government.
Highlighting the administration’s comprehensive approach to educational reform, Mr. Kanu revealed that a full diagnostic assessment of the educational sector in Abia has been completed. Consultants working with the Education Commissioner on school curricula have concluded their work, laying the groundwork for significant improvements.
A major component of this reform is the planned massive training for the state’s 12,000 teachers during the summer break. This training is designed to prepare educators for the “emerging new look schools” expected to be operational from September 2024.
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