The Abia State Government has announced the postponement of the resumption date for both public and private schools in the state for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Initially scheduled for Monday, September 16, the new date for school resumption is now Wednesday, September 23.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed the decision during a press briefing following the state’s Executive Council meeting in Umuahia, said the change is to coincide with an upcoming Muslim holiday.
In addition to the rescheduling, Prince Kanu revealed that the second batch of teacher training would commence on September 11 and conclude on September 20.
The training will be conducted simultaneously at three centers—Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia—with a target of 1,800 teachers. This is part of the state’s ongoing transformation efforts in the education sector. Over 200 teachers participated in the first batch of the program, which is considered a protocol for school resumption.
The Commissioner also announced that property owners in Aba without registered land titles have been granted a 90-day moratorium to register their properties at the old rates.
This move, described as a gesture of goodwill by Governor Alex Otti, aims to encourage property owners to regularize their documentation.
Director-General of the Greater Aba Development Authority, Mr. Uche Ukaeje, noted that the moratorium was a “Christmas gift” from the governor, pardoning owners who had built without approval and allowing them to register without paying penalties.
In further developments, Abia State has been selected as one of six states to represent Nigeria at an international medical symposium in Ghana, known as the HOPE initiative—an acronym for Human Capital Opportunity for Prosperity and Equity. The state was chosen due to the reforms currently being implemented in its health sector.
On the state’s ongoing “Light Up Abia Initiative,” 4,346 solar lights have been installed across 86 locations. This initiative aims to improve security and enhance the quality of life for residents.
The Information Commissioner also shared that the Abia State Electricity Bill has passed its second reading in the State House of Assembly, with hopes for its swift passage. Once enacted, the bill will empower the state to establish its own regulatory authority and rural electrification agency, further driving progress in the state’s power sector.
Chief Press Secretary Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, who also attended the briefing, reiterated the governor’s commitment to putting Abia on the path of sustainable development through these various reforms and initiatives.
