Abia State government has unveiled plans to establish tuition-free schools across its three senatorial zones, aimed at addressing the shortage of artisans in the state.
During a briefing on Monday night following the executive council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti, Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, revealed that the one-year residential program will offer courses in solar power installation and maintenance, PoP, painting, masonry, tiling, and more.
Kanu emphasized the state government’s commitment to nurturing local talent and reducing reliance on imported artisans, ensuring that graduates are empowered with necessary resources.
“For quite a while, Abia has been lacking artisans. So, the state government wants to put an end to this shortage of skilled workers in the state,” he noted.
He also highlighted the commencement of gas supply to the Geometric Power Plant in Aba and the government’s crackdown on traffic violations, particularly vehicles driving against traffic, known as “one way,” as part of efforts to instill discipline on the roads.
On his part, Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, disclosed ongoing investigations into the contamination of Aro Ajatakiri stream, attributing it to improper waste disposal methods by certain companies in Umuahia.
Despite the Federal Government’s announcement of released grains, Commissioner Kanu stated that the state government has yet to receive any such allocation, stating the need for clarity on the matter.
