Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s strong commitment to the successful implementation of the Federal Government’s Smart School Initiative.
Governor Otti made this known when he received members of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Ministerial Committee on Smart Schools, who paid him a courtesy visit during their two-day assessment of the UBEC Smart School located at Umuajuju in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, described the initiative as a strategic intervention that aligns with the state’s education reform agenda. He said the programme is designed to equip learners with 21st-century digital and technological skills needed to compete in a modern world.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for promoting technology-driven education through the Smart School Initiative.
Governor Otti further explained that the programme complements the Abia State Government’s vision of expanding access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in both urban and rural communities. He added that the present administration is currently constructing 20 Smart Schools in strategic locations across the state.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, said the UBEC Smart School Initiative is in line with the AbiaFirst Education Programme of the present administration.
He disclosed that the state government has already commissioned two state-owned Smart Schools—Ogbo Central Smart School, Ubakala, and Umuomaiukwu Smart School—as part of its efforts to improve teaching and learning through digital technology.
Earlier, the Dean of SUBEB Chairmen and Chairman of the UBEC Ministerial Committee on Smart Schools, Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, said the committee was set up by the Federal Ministry of Education to assess the level of completion of Smart Schools across the country.
According to him, the committee is also evaluating the schools’ readiness for operation, identifying challenges, engaging key stakeholders, and recommending measures to ensure the successful launch of the initiative nationwide by September.
Prof. Adaramaja praised Governor Otti for his significant investment in education and the wide-ranging reforms in the sector, describing Abia as one of Nigeria’s leading states in educational transformation.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Ambassador Lydia Onuoha, thanked the UBEC Ministerial Committee for its dedication to ensuring that Smart Schools across the country meet global standards.
The visit was attended by ASUBEB board members, the UBEC Smart School Focal Person, Hajia Hafsat Lawal, and other senior government officials.
