Abia approves recruitment of 5,300 teachers, lecturers

Abia State government has announced the recruitment of 5,300 teachers who have successfully passed the recruitment interviews in the state.

The Commissioner for Information in the state, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this in Umuahia, the state capital, on Tuesday, while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

He stated that another recruitment exercise would commence in a few days’ time, adding that the portal would be opened in the next couple of days for the second batch of teachers’ recruitment exercise.

Kanu also said the state government  approved the recruitment of lecturers of different categories to fill up vacant academic positions in critical areas of study in the Abia State University Uturu.

He hinted that the state EXCO equally approved the procurement of engineering equipment valued at N800 million for ABSU

He recalled that the governor made a promise to renovate the Male Hostel and a few other structures in the university and revealed that the Governor has lived up to his promise as the renovation of the hostel is almost completed and would be ready this May, while work has commenced in the new 5,000 capacity hostels.

The commissioner added that the National Universities Commission has released results of the October/November 2024 accreditation exercise, which saw ABSU get full accreditation for its programmes, including Law, Agriculture, Mass Communication, Educational Management and Planning.

Kanu pointed out that the state government has promoted staff of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic who have not been promoted since 2008, adding that payment of arrears of salaries of sacked and resigned staff of the institution has equally commenced.

He also disclosed that the results of the 2nd National Institute of Science, Laboratory, and Technology modular practical exams phase 1 show that the Polytechnic got 100 percent pass, saying that the institution is living up to expectations.

He said, “It is instructive to note that this is the first promotion exercise in the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic since 2008, making it a better morale booster for the institution.

“Also, the payment of arrears of salaries of sacked and resigned staff of the institution has commenced as approved by the Governor.

“The results of the 2nd National Institute of Science, Laboratory, and Technology modular practical exams phase 1 show that all the 164 students fielded by the school for the exam passed with a success rate of 100%.”

He continued, “For the 164 that did pass the exam. For the modular 2 of the same exam series, 158 students sat for the exam, and 157 passed. And that indicates a success rate of 99%.

“The Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic is living up to its name as a foremost polytechnic with its technological feats as reflected in the production of an online clearance platform for students.

The purpose of the school is to ease the stress of students in clearance processes. What this means is that you do not need to come physically to the school to get a clearance from the school.

“Also, the school is undergoing comprehensive curriculum review with the production of emerging courses including Artificial Intelligence,”

The Information Commissioner further informed that a panel has been inaugurated to investigate the activities of the recently suspended Provost of ASCETA and added that the construction works in the school are ongoing.