The Ministry of Tertiary Education, Abia State, on Tuesday marked the 2026 International Day of Education with a call for greater youth involvement in building a responsive, inclusive, and future-ready education system. The event, held under the theme “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education,” brought together government officials, education stakeholders, students, and development partners to reaffirm the critical role of young people in shaping educational development.
In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Uche Eme-Uche, highlighted ongoing reforms in the state’s tertiary education sector, including improved funding, renovation of facilities, staff recruitment, and strengthened academic standards. She emphasized that meaningful youth engagement is key to achieving sustainable educational progress that responds to contemporary realities.
Delivering the keynote, Prof. Regina Ogbonna described the International Day of Education as a global observance aimed at promoting education as a fundamental human right and a vital public good for peace and sustainable development. She called for youth inclusion to go beyond consultative processes, advocating genuine partnerships where young people actively participate in designing education solutions.
Also speaking at the event, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Uduma Dick, emphasized the need to establish structured platforms that would enable young people to participate actively in educational planning and innovation. He noted that deliberate collaboration with youths in shaping policies and programmes would unlock fresh ideas and drive the kind of innovation required for Abia State’s long-term growth.
In their separate lectures, the Rector of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Dr. Christopher Okoro, and Mr. Chidiebere Nnanna stressed that genuine youth co-creation is indispensable to building a sustainable and forward-looking education system. They described young people as critical partners in development whose insights and energy must be harnessed to achieve meaningful and lasting reforms in the sector.
The event also featured a panel discussion with Student Union Government (SUG) presidents and Dr. Uduma Dick, Dean of Student Affairs, providing students with a platform to share perspectives on education governance. Dignitaries in attendance included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Economy, Miss Chibuzor Chijioke; the Rector of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Dr. Christopher Okoro; representatives from Abia State University and Spiritan University; and students from various tertiary institutions across the state.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Barr. Chinyere Okeziem-Nwoko, expressed appreciation to Governor Alex Chioma Otti for his visionary leadership and sustained investment in education, particularly at the tertiary level. She commended Professor Eme-Uche for her youth-centered leadership and urged that the resolutions from the celebration be translated into concrete actions to advance quality, inclusive, and innovative education in Abia State.
