Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has assured that, as with the 2024 budget, the state’s allocation for education in 2025 will not fall below 20 percent, and possibly even higher.
Otti stated this at the inauguration of the first smart school in the state, located at Ofali Agwu Secondary School in Amaekpu Ohafia, Ohafia Local Government Area.
He said the decision to allocate such a significant percentage to education stems from his commitment to providing quality education, adding that he is the first governor of the state to achieve this level of funding.
The governor also announced that his administration is considering introducing free senior secondary school education in the state, building on the successful implementation of free education at the basic level.
He urged parents and guardians to embrace the policy and send their children and wards to school, warning that starting from January 2025, it will be a punishable offense to fail to do so.
“I sincerely hope that parents and guardians are taking note of this policy. We have given them a grace period, which will end on the last day of the year, to comply,” he said.
“From January next year, any child seen hawking, running errands, or selling goods will be picked up, not to arrest the child, but to hold the parent or guardian accountable.”
Otti also expressed gratitude to the facilitator of the school, Ibe Osonwa, the member representing Aro/Ohafia Federal Constituency, for ensuring the school’s completion.
In his address, Osonwa described the school as a bold step toward transforming education in the state, noting that it aligns with Otti’s vision to improve education at all levels.
“The teachers, from nursery to secondary levels, have undergone comprehensive training to operate the new technology, with over 70 trained educators expected to serve as trainers for others,” he added.
