Abia State Achieves Historic Educational Milestone as Government Finalises 25-Year Development Blueprint

Abia State has recorded a landmark achievement in its educational advancement with the successful execution of its first-ever comprehensive Annual School Census, generating precise and verifiable data from 4,150 schools, 1,687,326 learners, and 45,151 personnel across the state.

This disclosure was made by the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, during a press briefing at the Government House, Umuahia.

According to the Commissioner, although a number of private school proprietors initially hesitated to release enrolment figures, the exercise nonetheless attained remarkable success. As part of the process, the government deployed 1,221 Android tablets to school administrators and designated data officers.

> “For the first time in the history of the state, all schools uploaded their data digitally through the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) platform,” he announced.

Prince Kanu further revealed that the state’s adult and non-formal education programme is now fully functional, providing citizens with renewed opportunities for learning, skills acquisition, and employability.

He also affirmed that the Abia State Government is poised to unveil a 25-Year Growth and Development Plan, a meticulously crafted, future-facing framework designed to guide the state’s developmental trajectory across short-, medium-, and long-term phases. The plan, he noted, includes well-defined funding pathways and will be supported by enabling legislation to ensure continuity irrespective of political transitions.

Additionally, the Commissioner confirmed that the Materials Testing Laboratory, a critical facility for detecting substandard construction materials and curbing building collapses, has been fully installed and will soon be commissioned.

Sweeping Infrastructure Interventions

In the area of public infrastructure, Prince Kanu disclosed that the Ministry of Works is currently executing direct-labour projects in 50 locations, of which five have been completed, with seven more recently added.

Completed projects include:

2.1 km internal roads at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia

Road 11, Low-Cost Housing Estate

Bende–Itumbuzo Road (Phase I)

Enugu–Ugwu Road and World Bank Housing Estate Roads

Health Centre Road, World Bank Housing Estate, Umuahia


Newly added projects feature upgrades on Ikonne Street, Aba; Nzeadibe Street, Umuahia; and a road within the Mater Dei Catholic Cathedral, among others. Contractors have been directed to take full advantage of the dry season to expedite delivery.

Clarification on Abia Hotels Limited Revocation

The State Government also urged the public to disregard circulating misinformation regarding the revocation of Abia Hotels Limited, Umuahia.

Prince Okey Kanu clarified that the claims made by Investment Guarantee Limited, the former investor, were misleading. He maintained that the government had fully compensated the co-investor, Barr. Randy Obinna Ukanwoko, and lawfully assumed possession of the property.

Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, explained that the investor had breached virtually every clause of the agreement. He noted that the government opted for negotiation purely out of fairness, not because the investor had any legitimate grounds.

Mr. Kingsley Agomuo, General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), added that the government paid the investor ₦450 million in October, and the property was subsequently sealed three weeks later. He further revealed that the investor violated the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by altering structures without statutory approvals.

He also stated that Barr. Ukanwoko falsely claimed he had not been compensated, despite previously requesting confidentiality regarding the payment.

“Since he has chosen to go public, it is imperative that the truth be made known,” Agomuo stated.



Present at the briefing were Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma and Mr. Kingsley Agomuo.