The Abia State Government has launched and unveiled the Logo of the Abia Fostering Innovation Reform School Transformation (AbiaFIRST) initiative.
Speaking at the event held at the International Conference centre , Umuahia, the Governor, Dr Alex Otti said that the AbiaFIRST is focused on strategic initiatives aimed at transforming the education sector in the State through sustained investments in education.
“AbiaFIRST Transformation Education
programme is focused on strategic initiatives aimed at transforming the education sector in the State through sustained investments in development of school infrastructure, training and retraining of teachers on new trends, recruitment of quality teachers to cater for the rise in enrollment figures in our public schools.
He vowed to lead the charge in quality education delivery, assuring that the Government would no longer be playing second fiddle with the education sector.
“Never again will the Government play second fiddle with 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 renumeration,” Gov. Otti assured.
The Governor appreciated the efforts of the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in achieving his vision in the education sector, stressing that education is at the centre of his development agenda.
In his address, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi said that the AbiaFIRST initiative is not just about improving individual schools but a complete institutional reform that would transform education in Abia State .
He pointed out that the key to the transformation of the education sector is the innovative solutions the Government is introducing which include digital learning platforms, wholesome curriculum framework, teachers professional development, technical and vocational education, monitoring and evaluation system and Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) and called on all stakeholders to cooperate with the Government in that regard.
In her remarks, the Team Lead of the Education Reform and Innovation Team (ERIT), Mrs. Abolaji Osimen, noted that the ERIT team, which consists of 180 professionals specializing in areas such as Educational Technology, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has been engaging with the present Administration since 2023 with the goal of fostering digital proficiency among young learners and to collaboratively address the challenges facing Nigeria’s educational sector.
“We are here to Partner with Abia, we must have to act. So, our transformation strategy which we will be showing you is on 5 key pillars; learning outcomes, future – ready workforce, learning environment transformation, teacher excellent and strategic investments.
“We must either address our learning crisis now or risk creating the future with an under skilled population. Our choice today will determine whether Nigeria emerges as a dynamic economy with a highly skilled workforce or faces the challenge of wide spread unemployment, increase crime, and economic stagnation,” Osime stressed.
In their goodwill messages, development partners, including UNESCO representative, Mr. Adeyemi Oladeji, World Bank Senior Education Specialist, Dr. Tunde Adekola, and a representative of the British Council Office in Abuja, Mr. Daniel Fwanshishak, congratulated Governor Otti on his efforts to revitalize the education sector.
