Abia State Government has launched an accelerated Basic Education Programme designed to compress six years of primary education into three years, as part of efforts to expand access to learning for adults and out-of-school residents.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday, while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting, presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
According to Prince Kanu, the programme is being implemented by the Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education and is targeted at individuals who were unable to complete their basic education.
The Commissioner urged residents to take advantage of the initiative to obtain their first school-leaving certificate.
“The Abia State Accelerated Basic Education Programme aimed at running the six years primary school curriculum in three years has commenced.
“The Agency for Mass Literacy and Adult and Non-formal Education is responsible for running this programme and wishes that all Abians and residents who could not conclude their basic education should take advantage of this opportunity to sit and obtain their first school-leaving certificate in the State.
“Abia State happens to be one of the states that is running this programme for those who missed out in their early years and do not have the opportunity to obtain their first school-leaving certificate.
“So this programme makes it possible for all such people to take advantage of this programme”, he added.
Prince Kanu disclosed that the results of the oral interviews for Batch Two candidates in the teachers’ recruitment exercise, who were shortlisted after the CBT, are currently being compiled, assuring that all successful candidates will be duly notified in due course.
The Commissioner disclosed that over 7,280 candidates scored above 40 per cent in the Computer-Based Test, assuring that the process would remain transparent and merit-driven.
“In line with the standards of the transparent process and the fairness of the recruitment process in the state, everybody will be given a fair chance based on their performance”, he added.
On healthcare, Prince Kanu disclosed that the State has domesticated the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport Programme under the Maternal Mortality Initiative (MAMI) in three local government areas of Bende, Obingwa and Ukwa East, which have been identified as having high maternal mortality rates.
“The main objective of the programme is to provide access to emergency care in order to reduce maternal, child and neonatal mortality”, Prince Kanu said.
He further disclosed that Abia State has been selected as one of the beneficiary states of a $250 million World Bank Health Security Grant, attributing the development to ongoing reforms in the sector.
Prince Kanu also noted that there had been no reported cases of major public health diseases such as Lassa fever, Mpox, diphtheria, yellow fever, cholera and rabies during the review period.
He announced the commencement of the 2026 Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), Medical Mission, with plans to deliver no fewer than 1,500 consultations and 100 specialised surgeries to residents across the state.
Prince Kanu said that the exercise would officially begin on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, adding that the opening ceremony would hold at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, by 10 a.m.
The Commissioner explained that consultations and surgeries would take place at Aba General Hospital, while eye care services would be handled at the Abia Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre in Umuahia, while sexuality and reproductive health services would be provided at Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Prof Enoch Uche, described the AbIa/ ANPA initiative as a rare opportunity for residents to access world-class medical services locally.
“Instead of people having to travel to America, you will just travel from Arochukwu and go to Aba to get these services”, Prof Uche said.
He attributed the return of ANPA to Abia within a short period to the present administration’s commitment to healthcare reform and pointed out that beyond treatment, the mission would focus on capacity building for local health workers.
