Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has assured of the state’s readiness to host the 2025 National Council Meeting of the West African Examination Council WAEC scheduled to hold in Umuahia from 17th to 21st November 2025.
Governor Otti who gave the assurance while receiving a delegation from WAEC, led by the new Branch Controller, Mrs Mary Chima, and her management team, who paid him a courtesy visit in his Nvosi Isiala Ngwa South LGA office, noted that preparations were already underway to ensure a successful hosting.
The Governor who recalled that upon assumption of office in 2023, his administration declared a state of emergency on education, health, security, and environmental sanitation due to years of neglect in the sectors, expressed joy that the sectors are gradually bouncing back to life.
The Governor explained that his administration has embarked on massive school rehabilitation, teacher’s recruitment and trainings, as well as the introduction of smart schools to raise the standard of teaching and learning.
The State Chief Executive further revealed that over 5,394 new teachers had resumed work under the first phase of recruitment, with plans to hire nearly 5,000 additional teachers to balance the teacher-student ratio.
He appreciated the West African Examination Council WAEC for acknowledging the state’s performance in examinations, noting that the administration’s focus was on building a sound educational foundation rather than chasing statistics.
Earlier, the State WAEC Branch Controller, Mrs Mary Chima, said Abia was chosen to host the 2025 National Council Meeting in recognition of Governor Otti’s exceptional commitment to educational excellence, discipline, and reform.
Mrs Chima lauded the Governor for the launch of transformative initiatives such as AbiaFest and the training of over 11,000 teachers, as well as for ensuring that the 2024 WAEC Mathematics examination held peacefully across the state despite threats from non-state actors.
She explained that the WAEC National Council Meeting is the highest policy-making body of the Council in the country, bringing together state commissioners for education, heads of WAEC offices, and senior national officers to deliberate on policies and performance indices.
Mrs Chima also informed the Governor that prizes worth ₦10,775,000 would be presented to the three best schools in the state whose students excelled in the 2024 WASSCE for School Candidates.
The Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary School, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, among other top government officials were present during the visit.
