ABIA STATE GOVERNOR VISITS WORLD BANK COUNTRY DIRECTOR TO NIGERIA TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIP

ABIA STATE GOVERNOR VISITS WORLD BANK COUNTRY DIRECTOR TO NIGERIA TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIP

David Maduako –Umuahia

The Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti have paid an official visit to the World Bank Country Director to Nigeria Mr Mathew Verghis in his Abuja residence.

Abía State Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu made this known on Monday at the government house Umuahia while giving details of the out come of the week’s Executive Council meeting chaired by the state governor Dr Alex Otti .

Prince Kanu said the Abia State Chief Executive governor Otti paid the visit to Mr Verghis to among other things strengthen relationship between World Bank and Abia State. Their discussion the Commissioner said also hinged on development of Abía state in the areas of agriculture , Education, Energy , and Information Communication Technology ICT among others and fashion out ways for the partnership between the World Bank and the state would be enhanced .

Prince Okey Kanu also disclosed that the Executive Council have set up a high level 5 _man probe panel to investigate some anomallies going on in Abía State University Uturu.

The panel which is headed by the Chief of Staff to the governor pastor Caleb Ajagba and the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication Mr Dodoh Okafor as Secretary is to probe the issues of extortions from students ,by Lecturers harassment and certificate forgery. The panel is to find out those behind these acts and the issue of bribery and certificate forgery leveled against a particular Lecturer .

They are, to determine the extent of the implementation of the 2024 white paper on the school and identify implementation gaps and any other matter that may be relevant to the ongoing transformation and restoration of Abia State University as a citadel of learning and excellence.
other members of the panel include; Mr. Chinedu Ekeke, Professor Idowu Eluwa, and Professor Lawrence Idemudia, . They are expected to work with the governing council of the school and report back to the Visitor of the School .

Prince Kanu said the state government have commenced the 2026 Annual Schools Census across the state . This he said took effect from Monday the 11th of May , 2026. The exercise is designed to provide the State Ministry of Education reliable data for planning, policy formulation, and full access into the Hope Education Intervention Grant . The state wide exercise covers both private and public schools.

Prince Kanu also revealed that the Abia State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education has so far established 140 learning centres across the state to provide educational opportunities for adults and individuals who missed formal education in their early life.

The information Boss announced that the Abia state Basic Education Board ASUBEB have equally commenced the training of 265 Head Teachers for capacity building
and 306 Early Childhood Care Development teachers for effective school management and better learning outcomes.

The Commissioner further disclosed that ASEPA has commenced full enforcement of the use of waste bins in all commercial vehicles across the state to promote cleanliness and proper waste disposal habits among passengers.

On Infrastructure ,Prince Kanu informed that out of 29 roads under contract, 3 has been completed and would be commissioned soon. These roads include; Umuogo-Nsukwe ring road , Dualized Onuimo bridge to Abia Tower Umuahia and Nunya-Eluama Road in Isuikwuato LGA.

out of 51 roads under Direct Labour, 5 have been completed which include; the reconstruction of failed sections of Osisioma Flyover Aba , the reconstruction of failed sections of Port Harcourt -Enugu Express way to Ugwunagbo LGA Secretariat , overlay of Adaelu road to Mopol Base, Aba ,
among others .
End .