Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has reaffirmed his commitment to creating a functional education system in the state, emphasizing the importance of training students to compete globally.
Governor Otti made this declaration during an unscheduled visit to the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Umuahia, where the Master-Teachers Training Programme, part of the Abia First Education Transformation Programme, is ongoing.
Governor Otti had attended the 2024 edition of the Alex Otti Foundation (AOF) Scholarship Scheme at the Sacramento Event Center, Umuahia where he awarded scholarships to 46 indigent students studying in various tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
This initiative which has benefited hundreds of students over the years, is part of the Foundation’s effort to provide educational opportunities to underprivileged students.
In his remarks during the scholarship award ceremony, Governor Otti emphasized the essence of the AOF scholarship scheme as a means to support indigent students an opportunity to continue with their education.
“While everyone is striving to succeed, we must not forget those who are less fortunate. That’s the whole essence of the Alex Otti Foundation. It is not a place to make money or a place to play games,” he stated.
He further encouraged the scholarship recipients to take their studies seriously, noting that maintaining a certain level of Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is necessary to continue benefiting from the scholarship once enrolled from the second year and urged those blessed with resources to help others,
While addressing the teachers participating in the ongoing Master-Teachers Training Programme at FGGC Umuahia, Governor Otti reiterated his vision for a functional education system in Abia State.
He said; “My vision is that education will be functional and that our children will be properly trained. Our schools will be the best in class, and our teachers will be the best in class. That is why I’m spending money,” he said.
The Governor stressed the importance of quality education, noting that infrastructure alone does not make a school, but rather the knowledge imparted to and acquired by students.
Governor Otti highlighted the need for continuous learning and adaptation to 21st-century advancements, including robotics, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and cybersecurity.
He explained that the training program aims to equip teachers with the necessary skills to prepare students to compete on a global scale.
“If we want to produce children that will compete with children in China, India, and elsewhere, then we need to go back and retrain ourselves,” he added.
The Governor also hinted at plans to increase the state’s education budget beyond the current 20% allocation, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to improving the education sector.
