As Abia State-owned Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic (OOPA), Aba, recently secured N2 billion TETFund High Impact Grant, the state governor, Dr. Alex Otti, elatedly stated it would fasten the institution’s ongoing progress towards commencing operations from next academic year, in its new Main Campus located at Osisioma, on the outskirts of Aba metropolis.

The over 30-year-old Polytechnic, established by the late Science/Technology Minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who was the pioneer elected civilian governor of the state, has been operating from a temporary campus within the Aba metropolis.

Governor Otti, who spoke at the weekend during his August Media Chat with journalists, during which he gives an account of his activities every month, noted that the state Polytechnic was the only one in the South East zone that benefited from the High Impact Grant among 17 others across the country.

He therefore commended the institution’s Rector, Dr. Christopher Okoro, and the Management, for doing the needful that qualified the institution for the Grant, saying that the N2 billion Grant would facilitate not only the development of the Osisioma Main Campus, where lecture theatres, hostels, laboratories, and other structures/buildings have been ongoing.

He added that the Grant would also positively impact expanding/updating of the existing facilities at both campuses and other academic reforms that would include the introduction of contemporary courses like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, among others, in line with global trends.

Speaking on other education sector issues, the governor disclosed that 20 primary Smart Schools are currently under construction across the state, 221 primary and secondary schools are undergoing rehabilitation in the first phase of the State’s comprehensive school upgrade programme, while the state has spent N14.43 billion on renovating 61 schools this year.

He also reported that the 5,394 newly recruited teachers have been deployed to work in areas of their choice to ensure their optimal service delivery.

Updating on some other sectors, he reported that there is an extensive list of ongoing projects across Healthcare, Infrastructures, and Youth Empowerment.

That, out of the 200 targeted Primary Healthcare Centres under his ‘Project Ekwueme,’ 120 have been rehabilitated, with the upgrading of General Hospitals ongoing across the state, including provision of residential accommodation for staff to place them in a position for effective, desirable service delivery.

Adding that he has given approval for the recruitment of 771 Healthcare professionals, Governor Otti disclosed that 101,000 people have enrolled in the State Health Insurance Scheme.