Abia activates ABIAFIRST education programme

Abia State governor, Alex Otti, yesterday formally activated a new state education programme named “Abia Fostering Innovation and Reform for School Transformation” (AbiaFIRST).

The programme, according to the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, represents a holistic approach to education transformation encompassing Early Childhood Development, Basic Education Enhancement, Secondary School Reform, Technical and Vocational Training, Digital Learning Integration, Career Education, and Community Engagement.

He said, “It encompasses state-of-the-art infrastructural development in the education sector, advanced digital learning processes, comprehensive teachers’ development programmes, innovative curriculum design, and modern vocational training centers, among others.”

He said that the vision is to prepare Abia students in basic and secondary schools to be skilled participants in the global village, while its focus is on institutional reform and school transformation, introducing innovative solutions such as Digital Learning Platforms, a Comprehensive Curriculum Framework, Teacher Professional Development, Enhanced TVET Programmes, and Robust Monitoring and Evaluation Systems.

He said,”AbiaFIRST is being implemented through a strategic partnership between the Abia State Government and the Education Reform and Innovation Team (ERIT)—a consortium of accomplished education experts, innovators, and transformation agents.”

While unveiling the AbiaFIRST logo at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, the state governor said that it is a central plan for a transformational governance initiative for the rapid socio-economic development of the state.

He said, “AbiaFIRST is focused on strategic initiatives aimed at transforming the state education sector through sustained investments in the development of school infrastructure, training and retraining of teachers on new trends, and recruitment of quality teachers to cater for the rise in enrollment figures.”

He vowed to lead in qualitative education delivery, saying,”Abia State Government has re-taken the initiative to lead the charge in the qualitative education of our young people through our multi-level learning institutions.

“Never again will the government play second fiddle in the education sector, as we shall lead from the front in terms of investments in infrastructure, recruitment of the best to teach and educate our children, and personnel remuneration.”

Speaking, the Team Lead of the Education Reform and Innovation Team (ERIT), Mrs. Abolaji Osimen, said that the ERIT team, which consists of 180 professionals specializing in areas such as Educational Technology and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), has been engaging with the state administration since 2023.

According to her, the goal is to foster digital proficiency among young learners and collaboratively address the challenges facing Nigeria’s education sector.

Lauding Governor Otti for committing to educational development in Abia State, the ERIT Team Lead further said, “We are grateful to Governor Otti for doing what he is doing. Based on recent statistics, there are over 40 million students in schools in Nigeria, with 80% of them in public schools.”