Education
Abia govt approves N62m bursary awards for law students
The Abia State government, in keeping with the high premium it places on education, has approved payment of bursary awards to Abia State indigenes in law schools across the nation.
The value of the award is put at about N62m, based on the number of the requests approved by the governor.
The state commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu who announced this during an interactive session with newsmen in Umuahia, also disclosed that government approved the renovation and retrofitting of 170 primary schools.
This translates to 10 primary schools per LGA, aside the 6 model schools that were already being renovated.
He added that 51 secondary schools have also been approved for renovation, with three schools per LGA across the State.
According to Kanu: “The schools will have some features that make them modern schools. They would have staff Quarters , Care takers house , the Head Teacher’s house, and a gate house .The primary Schools, of course would have Nurseries . This again is in keeping with the promise to Abians.”
Kanu announced regrettably that WAEC has delisted some schools in Abia over examination malpractices.
He said that most of the schools are private schools.
According to the Commissioner, though the Government is not happy over the development, the action is however , in line with the policy of the present administration to do things right.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eme Uche, declared: “You remember there was a time we started checking private schools and closed down those that did not meet the required standards . Some of them are special centres and we know that. Some of those special centres have been identified by WAEC and we are not happy about that. So what they have done was to first warn, and then threaten the affected schools with sanctions including the withdrawal of their license to operate.
“Remember that some CBT centres were shut down in Aba and they were shut down because of the issue of examination malpractices . We don’t want Abia to be known as a centre for examination malpractices. However , we’ve been able to reopen most of them.”
Meanwhile Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, the state governor, has flagged-off the construction of the 30 kilometers Arochukwu/ Ndi-Okereke/Ozuabam road, while the 11.5 kilometers Nunya -Eluama -Isuikwuato road will be flagged-off next week.
Kanu further made it clear that the measures were in keeping with the State government ‘s strategic road infrastructure development Initiative.
He emphasized that roads are serious enablers for a good business environment and the State government will not relent in ensuring that roads in the State are put in very good motorable condition”.
The Commissioner also announced that the State government has fixed Saturday, 23rd March for the monthly sanitation exercise, for this month, explaining that the last Saturday of the month would be Easter Saturday, hence the need to clean up the environment ahead of Easter.