Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has expressed readiness of his government in partnering the socialist Republic of Vietnam in various areas of the interest for the development of Abia state.

Governor Alex Otti stated this on Tuesday when he had in audience a delegation led by the Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung.

The team paid him a working visit at his Umuehim, Nvosi Country home in Isiala Ngwa south local government area of Abia state.

He said that there are many areas the state could collaborate with Vietnam for mutual benefits.

“We are very happy to have you in Abia. We will be very happy to work with you. I see a lot of areas where we can collaborate and work together.”I see a whole lot of opportunities for us to partner. We will be pleased to work with you to improve our relationship in trade, commerce, manufacturing and agriculture,” Gov. Otti said.

The Abia State Governor said that his government is focused in what it wants to achieve, saying that he has held meetings with those that are interested to partner with the Government before now to float certain industries in the State.

He directed the Commissioner for Industry to work with the Vietnamese Ambassador and for the government’s team to take them round the state to see things for themselves.

While thanking the Vietnamese Ambassador for choosing Abia State for a partnership, he expressed optimism that with the possible partnership with Vietnam, those ailing industries could be revived.

Earlier, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung highlighted the vast economic opportunities in the state, in agriculture, manufacturing, textiles, oil and gas, and expressed interest in strengthening trade relations with Abia State, with particular interest in agriculture, manufacturing, and the oil and gas sectors.

The Ambassador emphasized the commitment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to fostering a strong bilateral relationship with Abia State to enhance import and export activities and create mutual benefits between Vietnam, Nigeria in general and Abia State in particular.

He said that he would use the few days he would be in Abia to visit certain sites such as National War Museum, Golden Guinea, Saclux Paint, Aba Textile Mill including Shoes and Garments Clusters in Umuahia and Aba as well as hold meetings with Aba and Umuahia Chambers of Commerce to explore potential partnership opportunities between Vietnamese government and her private sector with Abia State.

Mr. Hung commended Governor Otti’s leadership, applauding his efforts in improving the economic standards of the people.

“We appreciate your leadership. We will like to congratulate you on your exemplary and focused leadership of the Abia State Government,”he said.

The delegation was later taken to the National War Museum, Umuahia in company of the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Digital Economy, Dr. Mathew Ekwuribe while other sites have been scheduled and engagements planned with relevant groups.

By, Editor, Umuahia

The media landscape in Abia State is set for a transformative experience as the highly anticipated Abia Media Day 2024 approaches.

The event themed “Celebrating the Voice of Abia, Empowering the Future of Media,” this prestigious event is expected to unite media professionals, industry stakeholders, and leaders to honor the significant role of media in shaping Abia’s socio-economic development.

Key event details

Date: December 7, 2024 (Morning Summit): 10 AM venue :Rapha Hotel, Umuahia.

A comprehensive session including paper presentations, panel discussions, and brainstorming activities to chart the future of media in Abia State.

Evening Hangout: 8 PM at De Latinos, Umuahia.

A celebratory gathering at De Latinos

The event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive sessions designed to provide insights into the challenges, proffer solutions and empower the future of media in Abia State.

Distinguished guests and speakers include; Governor Alex Otti – Special Guest of Honour

Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives – Guest of Honour

Hon. Eziuche Ubani, CEO, Magic FM Aba – Guest Speaker

According to the organisers, joining these personalities will be prominent media veterans, investors, and key industry players.

Everyone is coming together to celebrate the resilience and progress of Abia’s media space.

The event is in collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Radio, Television, Theatre, and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN),Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Radio Managers Union and other allied media associations.

*Stakeholders, veterans, and media enthusiasts are encouraged to attend this historic event, uniting to celebrate and shape the future of media in Abia State.

Call for Sponsors and Media Support

The Organizing Committee is therefore inviting corporate sponsors, philanthropists, and media outfits across Nigeria to support this groundbreaking event as sponsorships will enhance the summit’s impact and foster the development of a more robust media ecosystem in the state

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Ohafia local government area of Abia state has become the very first to host a smart school in the state.

This is all thanks to the lawmaker representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Ibe Okwara Osonwa.

Speaking while commissioning the smart school situated Ofali Akwu Secondary School, Ohafia, governor Alex Otti said that his administration has rolled out free and compulsory education at the primary and Junior secondary levels, adding that he would consider extending the policy to the senior secondary level as soon as the state’s economy improves.

He urged parents and guardians to take advantage of the new policy to send their wards to school, warning that from January 2025, it will be a punishable offence for any parent or guardian whose ward is seen hawking goods on the streets during school hours.

“I hope the parents are taking note, we have given you people some months of grace. From January next year, if we see a child hawking during school hours, running errands and selling wares, we are going to pick up that child not because we want to arrest him but we will pick him up and he will take us to his or her parents”.

“We will exchange the child with the parents and we will lock the parents up”, Governor Otti warned.

The Governor while thanking Chief Okwara Osonwa for facilitating the project and seeing to its completion in record time, said that it would be replicated to serve as a standard in all public schools across the State.

He said that his unquenchable taste for quality education led to the allocation of 20% of the 2024 Budget to the education sector, assuring that 2025 fiscal year will not fall short of acceptable standard.

“Do not forget that for the first time, 20 percent of our budget was allocated to education and that was the 2024 budget”.

“In the next few hours, I will be sitting with the budget committee for the 2025 budget and already, I had given instruction before this meeting that whatever the total budgetary outlay is going to be for 2025, at a minimum, 20 percent of it must also go to education”, the Governor asserted.

In his address, the Member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Chief Ibe Okwara Osonwa described the project as a bold step towards transforming education in Abia state, adding that it aligns with the governor’s vision in preparing Abia children for the demands of a technologically advanced world.

The Federal lawmaker disclosed that the facility has replaced traditional chalkboards and marker boards with state-of-the-art, interactive digital screens equipped with cameras as well as digital screens that capture classroom activities and allow students to revisit lessons at any time, while also enabling remote participation for learners outside the school premises.

He emphasized the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, pointing out that his aim is to ensure that the children are equipped with the basics available globally to enable them compete confidently with their peers anywhere in the world.

The law maker said that the school’s teachers, from Nursery to Secondary levels have undergone comprehensive training to operate the new technology with over 70 trained educators expected to serve as trainers for others and expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders including Governor Otti for contributing to the initiative.

Representative of all the development partners, Mr Olayomi Gbolahan said that they are happy to be part of history aimed at bringing the state in tune with the 21st century teaching and learning demands, adding that the school is equipped with full ICT facilities, 24 hours solar – powered, CCTV cameras and can be used for other purposes such as youth empowerment, women digital training and skills acquisition centre.

Responding on behalf of the benefitting school, Ofali Akwu Secondary School, Miss Blessing thanked Governor Otti’s administration and the facilitator Chief Ibe Okwara Osonwa for the massive transformation and called for perimeter fencing of the School to safeguard lives and the facilities provided.