Governor Alex Otti has commended the management of Abia State Polytechnic for securing a ₦2 billion Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Special High Impact Intervention grant, describing it as a milestone for the institution and the state.
Speaking on Friday at the August edition of his monthly media parley, Governor Otti Speaks, he noted that 18 state polytechnics nationwide benefited from the intervention, with Abia Polytechnic the only beneficiary in the South East.
“I congratulate the rector and his team for working very hard to earn us such a pride of place,” he said, adding that the funds will boost development at the Osisioma campus, including lecture theatres, hostels, laboratories, and other facilities, ahead of its opening next academic session.
He revealed that the current Aba campus is undergoing major renovations, while academic reforms are introducing contemporary courses such as artificial intelligence and robotics.
Governor Otti also reported progress at the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, which recently regained accreditation, and at Abia State University, Uturu, where new faculties of Agriculture and Law are being developed alongside hostel upgrades, internal road works, and power supply improvements.
Highlighting the state’s broader education drive, Otti said 20 smart schools are under construction, while 221 primary and secondary schools are in the first phase of rehabilitation. A total of 5,394 new teachers have been recruited and deployed for optimal service delivery.
Governor Otti in response to an opposition statement demanding accountability over funds allocated for the renovation of public schools, disclosed that his administration has, in the current year alone, spent ₦14.43 billion on the renovation and upgrade of schools across the state.
On healthcare, he disclosed that 120 of 200 targeted primary healthcare centres under Project Ekwueme have been rehabilitated, with added staff accommodation for 24-hour service. All 22 general hospitals, including those in Amachara, Ohafia, and Aba, are being renovated. Approval has been granted to hire 771 healthcare professionals, and 101,000 residents have enrolled in the state’s health insurance scheme.
In infrastructure, the governor said about 50 road projects are underway, alongside urban renewal measures such as road lighting, tree planting, and new bus terminals in Umuahia, Aba, and Ohafia. Plans are in motion for the state to take over Umuahia’s electricity supply, establish a 15-megawatt independent power project for Abia State University, and operationalise the new Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency.
On youth empowerment, Otti cited the ongoing leadership academy for 8,000 young people, the TechRise and fashion enterprise programmes, and a ₦2 billion interest-free cooperative loan scheme. He stressed that his administration is focused on equipping citizens for sustainable livelihoods rather than promoting “a culture of palliatives and handouts.”
Otti assured that many projects will be ready for commissioning before the end of the quarter, reiterating his government’s commitment to transforming schools, hospitals, roads, and the economy for round-the-clock activity.
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