Abia Govt To Commission Upgraded Eye Center, Enhances Education And Security Measures
The Abia State Government has announced plans to commission the newly upgraded Eye Center at Abia Specialist Hospital, Amachara Annex, Umuahia, on Tuesday, September 2nd.
This was made known by the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, during a press briefing on the outcomes of this week’s executive council meeting, presided over by the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu explained that the development underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing the health needs of the people.
The Commissioner also disclosed that a panel has been inaugurated to facilitate the upgrade of the School of Nursing, Amachara, into a College of Nursing Sciences. This upgrade aims to enhance access to affordable healthcare services across the state.
In preparation for the resumption of schools on September 16, 2024, the State Government has implemented security measures, deploying personnel across educational institutions to ensure the safety of students and teachers.
As part of the government’s educational reform agenda, plans have been finalized to train 2,000 master trainers for teachers in the state. Of these, 200 have already completed their training, with the remaining 1,800 to follow soon.
ASUBEB’s School Enhancement Team Programme has screened and interviewed 200 teachers, with 40 of them shortlisted for special training before the school reopening later this month.
Responding to questions from journalists, the Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Lady Lydia Onuoha, explained that the 2,000 master trainers are distributed across the state’s 17 LGAs, with the training conducted in phases.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Sir Kenechukwu Nwosu, added that the deployment of security personnel to public schools was in response to frequent cases of vandalism, and efforts are underway to fence schools lacking proper boundaries.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, was also present at the briefing.