The Abia State Government has announced plans to launch the Abia Medical City project, an initiative aimed at curbing medical tourism and positioning the state as a hub for medical services.
Prince Okey Kanu, the State Commissioner for Information, made the announcement during a press briefing following this week’s executive council meeting, which was chaired by Governor Alex Otti. He highlighted that the project, once completed, will not only reverse the trend of medical tourism but also make Abia a preferred destination for various medical needs.
In addition, Kanu revealed that the state government has begun implementing its out-of-school policy, covering primary and junior secondary school levels. As part of this initiative, the government has inaugurated School Marshals, including security personnel and other key stakeholders in the education sector.
He explained that the out-of-school policy is part of Governor Otti’s vision for compulsory and free education at the primary and junior secondary levels, urging parents and guardians to take full advantage of this opportunity to ensure their children attend school.
The Information Commissioner also shared that the government has launched mathematics clinics for students in Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) and Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3). These clinics will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:00 am to 7:45 am as part of the administration’s focus on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) policy.
Furthermore, Kanu revealed that plans are underway to recruit a large number of teachers across the state to fill existing vacancies in schools.
Contributing to the briefing, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, stated that the government intends to hire approximately 2,500 new teachers in the first phase. He added that details regarding the application process, which will be online, will be made available before the week’s end.
Elder Ubochi also explained the role of the newly appointed School Marshals, who will patrol schools during hours to identify and apprehend children of school age found loitering or engaging in street hawking. These children will be escorted to their parents or guardians for potential questioning and sanctions.
Regarding the mathematics clinics, Ubochi emphasized that the initiative aims to better prepare students for their examinations. The clinics will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00 am to 7:45 am, with an additional session from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm for science-focused students.
The briefing was attended by several key officials, including Professor Enoch, the Commissioner for Health, and Professor Joel Ogbonna, the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, among others.
