Education

ASCETA: Why Egesi, cabal are after Provost

Published

4 years ago

December 27, 2022

csunews

PERSPECTIVE.

By Uche Okoroafor

It is a settled matter in law that he who has the power to hire also has the power to fire, the circumstances notwithstanding. It is also settled matter in nature that you cannot give what you don’t have. But what is not settled is when a lecturer at the nadir of his career suddenly wants to become the head of the institution with only greed,envy and hatred as his main qualifications. What is also not settled is when that lowly rated lecturer, converted from an ordinary clerk hides under unionism to cast aspersions on the Governor of the state and management of the college all in a bid realise his Lilliputian ambition.

If Kelvin Egesi, the disgraced former staff of Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu (ASCETA),had any modicum of reputation before he was sacked, he finally shed it in a write up where he blatantly accused Gov Okezie Victor Ikpeazu of not knowing his job through the appointment of Dr Phillips Nto as the Provost of ASCETA in 2016. He said Nto who obtained a PhD in 2010 and had been a lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,was not qualified because he didn’t have any qualification in education. Egesi cheekily declared that he is more qualified to be the Provost because he has a diploma from NTI.

Unfortunately, Egesi being an academic dwarf and mentally lazy forgot that the Edict establishing ASCETA never mentioned such. He also forgot that when he was converted to academic staff that he didn’t have any certificate in education. But more fundamentally,how is it possible that a man who had been a lecturer in a university for years, graduating those who teach in a college of education, cannot head that same institution?

Be that as it may, the achievements of Nto as Provost of ASCETA in the last six years have given a lie to such idiotic postulations. ASCETA was a glorified secondary school when Nto took over. It was overgrown with weeds and reptiles. It was not even connected to national grid. The NCCE had withdrawn accreditation from most of the courses in the college. TETFUND had blacklisted the institution. Despondency pervaded everywhere. Nto , through the intervention of His Excellency, Gov Okezie Victor Ikpeazu ,has reversed all that. Those in doubt should take a trip to the college to behold the tremendous transformation wrought there in the last six years.

But Egesi and the cabal are not happy with Nto. He killed the goose laying corrupt and maggot infested eggs for them. Dr Phillips Nto in accordance with NCCE guidelines stopped the bazaar they called study centres through which non students were masquerading as graduates of ASCETA after coughing out thousands of Naira to Kelvin Egesi and his cohorts. Dr Phillips Nto thought he was on the right mission to restore the dignity of ASCETA certificates. But no, he greatly offended Egesi and the cabal . So when you hear of ASCETA having thousands of students before Nto assumed office, they were actually traders who sought to buy certificates from ASCETA.

Funny enough, the certificates were not even given to anyone including the genuine student graduates. It took the coming of Dr Phillips Nto as Provost for graduates of ASCETA to know what their certificates look like. For more than two decades, all former Provosts did not fetch those certificates from NCCE. It was only the man without any certificate in education that got them.

It was also only Dr Phillips Nto as Provost that reversed the blacklisting of ASCETA by TETFUND, another matter that Kelvin Egesi holds against him. He would rather that Nto left the situation obtuse so that no progress will be recorded. It is on record that since ASCETA started accessing TETFUND that the physical infrastructure in the college has improved. No fewer than 10 solid buildings comprising lecture halls, auditorium,world class library, offices for staff and others have been erected,thus changing positively the landscape of the institution. To Kelvin Egesi, that is a mortal sin . The money he made through conferences and teaching practice from TETFUND also ought to be a sin. Before now,no lecturer from ASCETA had such a privilege. The college has up to One billion Naira for further studies in tetfund, but the lecturers are not coming up with brilliant academic proposals to access them. Some like Kelvin Egesi would rather romance with opposition politicians like they did in 2019 when they boasted openly that Gov Okezie Victor Ikpeazu would not be reelected. To their shame, he is about serving out his second tenure and move to Abuja as a Senator.

Egesi lied against the governor and the management when he claimed that he was sacked because he complained over the death of a staff for non payment of salaries. First and foremost,it is wicked and insensitive to use the death of a staff as a campaign weapon for the opposition whom Kelvin Egesi works for. If non payment of salaries is the sole killer of staff of ASCETA, I don’t know how many that would have been affected. It’s the same Egesi and his groups who practically called the governor a murderer because there was no oxygen in Arochukwu general hospital where the said staff died. Yes ASCETA staff are owed. But not 32 months. The governor last December paid 12 months salaries to staff ,yet we are still hearing 32 months. Even this year, salaries were paid before Christmas. Dr Phillips Nto has leveraged on his excellent working relationship with the state government to ensure that the welfare of staff is addressed. Unfortunately, while he is busy doing that, Egesi and the cabal would be demanding his removal.

Finally,he has come out openly to demand the sack of Dr Phillips Nto as Provost. Unfortunately he lacks locus to make such a senile demand because he is no longer a staff of ASCETA. It is also ironic that it is to the same Governor whom he accused of not knowing his job that he is running to. However,in his foolery, he has refused to accept that he can never be Provost of ASCETA. Long after Dr Phillips Nto would have gloriously ended his second tenure, Kelvin Egesi would still remain his frustrated self dreaming of the impossibly. That , again,is a settled fact.

Okoroafor writes from Atani, Arochukwu.

Education

Governor Otti approves training Of 1000 Youths In THRIVEABIA Digital Capacity Programme

Published

3 weeks ago

October 15, 2026

csunews

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has approved the expansion of the ThriveAbia Digital Capacity Development and Mentorship Programme to accommodate 1,000 young people in its first cohort following the successful training of 100 participants under the pilot phase.

Governor Otti gave the approval on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in his office, while receiving a delegation led by the Director and Co-founder of Tech Excentric, the technical partners for the ThriveAbia programme.

The Governor expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the pilot phase and directed immediate expansion of the programme.

“I am therefore in agreement with the proposal to expand the programme to accommodate 1,000 participants. Indeed, it should be implemented as quickly as possible because time is of the essence. Applicants would apply and sit for the test, after which the results would determine those who proceed to the next stage,” Governor Otti said.

The State Chief Executive congratulated the team on the successful training of the first 100 participants, commending the 87 percent graduation rate and the fact that more than half of the participants were women.

“I am particularly impressed by what I have seen today. I congratulate you on the successful training of the first 100 participants and on the impressive results recorded. An 87 per cent graduation rate is commendable, especially when we consider that a significant proportion of the graduates are already earning in foreign currency,” Governor Otti stated.

The Governor noted that his administration is already collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the UNIPOD initiative, stressing that digital skills development and emerging technologies are critical to preparing young people for the future.

The Governor however emphasized that selection for the expanded programme must be strictly merit-based, proposing computer-based testing and additional assessments to ensure a transparent and competitive process.

Consequently, Governor Otti directed the team to work with relevant government officials to develop a clear implementation timetable and identify suitable facilities for the training.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. David Kalu, who introduced the team, said the ThriveAbia pilot was a huge success with 100 young Abians graduating in various digital skill areas. He noted that apart from the 87 percent graduation success, over 50 percent of the graduates have already started earning in foreign currencies as a result of the training and mentorship.

In their remarks, the Director, Mrs. Doris Akpuha, and Co-founder of Tech Excentric, Mr. Gilbert Igwe, expressed satisfaction with the success of the pilot phase and said the team is ready to commence the first cohort of 1,000 participants following the Governor’s approval.

According to them, the programme is designed to equip young Abians with practical digital skills, entrepreneurship capabilities and mentorship required to compete in the global digital economy.

They also disclosed plans to launch a social media campaign to showcase the Governor’s achievements and highlight opportunities being created for young people, adding that the initiative aims to increase Abia’s GDP through digital economy.

They thanked Governor Otti for the opportunity to partner the State Government.

Education

Otti charges Abia youth on service, innovation to drive new Abia project

Published

2 months ago

August 30, 2026

csunews

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has urged young Abia residents and Indigenes to embrace excellence, innovation, hard work and selfless service as 1,086 youths graduated from the 2026 Abia State Leadership Academy Youth Leadership Boot Camp.

The governor, who spoke at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, on Saturday, from where the 2026 Abia State Leadership Academy Youth Leadership Boot Camp graduates were about to take off their duties in service to nation, was represented by the Chairman, Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Eno Jerry Eze.

Governor Otti’s speech, which was on “The Leadership Vocation”, was delivered at the graduation ceremony held at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, Abia State, on Saturday.

The function had been organized by the Abia State Leadership Academy in collaboration with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.

The governor urged the new graduates to regard their graduation as the commencement of greater responsibility, challenging them to form mentoring clusters, share knowledge and skills acquired and mobilize their wards to be part of the New Abia change agents.

He said the New Abia was a transgenerational project that required patience, perseverance, partnerships and persistent efforts to make it happen.Governor Otti further noted his interest in seeing the ideas the graduates presented during their capstone presentations at the boot camp, as concepts to be implemented.

He challenged the new leaders to make Abia State the best state to live in, adding that the academy would keep a register of them and their contributions while charging them to invest in their personal development.

Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Dr. Eno Jerry Eze, stated that out of the 1,086 graduates selected from over 7,000 applicants, the four-week rigorous boot camp themed, “Raising Transformational Leaders, Innovators and Change-makers,” had helped them acquire knowledge and skills in leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

She noted that the boot camp was an embodiment of the state’s commitment to investing in its youths.

The President of the Abia State Leadership Academy, Prof Kenneth Kalu, said Governor Otti had done a tremendous thing by initiating the academy, adding that the youths should go back to their villages, towns, and communities to lead, add value, and transform based on the values and virtues learned.

He urged the new leaders to always remember to serve with integrity, compassion, and purpose as they continue to impact their immediate environment positively.

Education

From training to Job: fresh Techrise Graduates get Automatic Employment as Gov. Otti donates N100,000 to each participant

Published

2 months ago

August 22, 2026

csunews

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has granted automatic employment into the State Civil Service to the 19 best graduating students of Cohort 3 Abia TechRise ICT skills development program.

The governor on Thursday, August 21, 2026, during the graduation ceremony of 850 youths trained in the third cohort of the program at the JAAC Secretariat, Umuahia, announced the employment benefit for the new graduates.

He said the reward was the brainchild of his government, which was committed to creating an enabling environment for the best talents in each of the cohorts of the TechRise program, adding that they would help provide quality services in the civil service.

Governor Otti also donated N100,000 to each of the graduating youths and directed the organizers to forfeit the laptops they used for training as personal property.

He directed the Head of Service and the relevant ministries to carry out needs assessment on all government agencies and open positions requiring ICT expertise in the state and fill them with TechRise graduates.

The Governor also announced the creation of a special wage or salary structure for ICT professionals in the state’s civil service, subject to the condition.

He further emphasized that retaining the best talents in each cohort of the TechRise would add value to the State’s institutions and services through their skills and technology.

The governor challenged the fresh graduates to seek the knowledge and add value to their lives, saying the knowledge and skills they gained through the free training were better than the N100,000.

He urged them to turn their skills into businesses, innovations, or ideas to generate income while advising against the use of their skills for criminal activities.

The governor acknowledged the innovative skill of a few graduates who made a working drone and directed the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation to partner them on the idea to take it to the next level.

The governor also said his administration was ready to establish international examination and certification centers for ICT in Abia while collaborating with MTN to provide internet facilities in the state.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, said the 100 percent free program, with 3 months of training, in partnership with the 17 local government areas, had so far trained 2,210 youths in three cohorts.

Meanwhile, the TechRise coordinator and CEO of LearnFactory, Engr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, said the free training program had also trained 2,500 civil servants in computers and would soon train 5,000 civil servants in computers.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Mr. Onuoha Victor Chinedu thanked Gov. Otti for giving them a platform to acquire the skills that will enable them to face their lives after studies.