The Abia State Agency for Mass Literacy Adult and Non-Formal Education has launched an accelerated learning initiative aimed at individuals who were unable to complete their basic education.The State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this to journalists after the State Executive Council meeting held at Government House in Umuahia, which was presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu also revealed that Abia State has been selected as a beneficiary of a $250 million health security grant from the World Bank. He attributed this to ongoing reforms in the health sector, noting that there were no reported cases of major public health diseases such as Lassa fever, Mpox, Diphtheria, Yellow fever, Cholera, and Rabies during the review period.
He encouraged residents to take advantage of the Abia State Accelerated Basic Education Programme, which compresses the six-year primary school curriculum into three years, enabling participants to obtain their first school-leaving certificate. According to Kanu, the programme is specifically designed for those who missed out on basic education earlier in life, giving them a renewed opportunity to complete their studies.
On the ongoing recruitment of 4,000 teachers, the commissioner said results from the oral interviews for Batch Two candidates—shortlisted after the Computer-Based Test—are currently being compiled. He added that over 7,280 candidates scored above 40 percent in the CBT, assuring that the process remains transparent and merit-based, with successful applicants to be notified in due course.
Kanu further announced that the 2026 medical mission by the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas will begin on April 14, 2026, at the Michael Okpara Auditorium. The outreach is expected to deliver at least 1,500 medical consultations and 100 specialised surgeries for residents. Medical services will be conducted across multiple locations, including Aba General Hospital, Abia Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, and Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, covering areas such as general care, eye treatment, and reproductive health.
The State Commissioner for Health, Enoch Uche, described the initiative as a rare opportunity for residents to access world-class healthcare locally, eliminating the need for costly international travel. He added that the programme will also focus on building the capacity of local healthcare professionals.
Additionally, the state has domesticated the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport Programme under the Maternal Mortality Initiative in Bende, Obingwa, and Ukwa East. The initiative is designed to improve access to emergency care and reduce maternal, child, and neonatal mortality rates in these high-risk areas.
Source: https://guardian.ng/
