Education took centre stage in Abia State on Tuesday, July 7, as the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, commissioned the Ogbo Central Smart School in Ubakala.
The project, built under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, represents a bold step toward transforming learning and preparing Abia children to compete on a global scale.
Dr. Alausa, visibly impressed by the facility, lauded Governor Otti’s foresight and commitment to human capital development, and stressed that sustainable progress is not defined merely by roads and bridges but by deliberate investment in education and the intellectual empowerment of citizens.
“The Governor’s education reforms are aimed at equipping every child in Abia State with the knowledge and skills required to compete successfully at the local, national and global levels,” he said.
He added, “That’s what we are witnessing in Abia State today. When you have a Governor that is committed and thought and said, ‘I’m going to build a smart school, not just one, not two, not three, not four, but ten, twenty,’ that’s a Governor that cares for the people. That’s a Governor that wants your kids to lead Nigeria and lead the world.
“Today, your kids and Abia children will sit in this school. They will get the best educational material that a child in America, in London would also have right here in this community. They will learn how to use AI. Five years from now, ten years from now, Abia will lead the world.”
Governor Otti, in his speech titled Tomorrow is the Reward, explained that the Ubakala smart school is the first of three to be commissioned this month across the state’s senatorial districts, revealing that an additional seventeen schools, one in each Local Government Area, will follow.
“Evidently, Abia has moved into a new era of technology-driven and participatory model of learning. Each of the 20 smart schools that will dot our landscape by the end of the year shall be equipped with an interactive board, and each pupil—300 per school, 30 in a classroom—will be handed a tablet to support their learning experience,” he said.
The Governor emphasized that the initiative is designed to transform human capital into the engine of economic growth. “Today, we are here to commission a smart school that promises to change the face of public education in the State. The overarching agenda is to transform our human capital into the central engine of economic growth and accelerated development.
“Our focus has gone past the old mindset of going to school to pick a certificate and join the queue of job seekers thereafter. We are poised to launch a mass of educated and visionary leaders who will go on to harness the untapped resources in our environment for widespread prosperity, as we see in other parts of the world,” he declared.
He further announced that education in the smart schools will be free and compulsory, warning against extortion by teachers or vandalism of infrastructure.
The commissioning drew heartfelt responses from stakeholders.
Elder Goodluck Ubochi, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, described the event as a bold declaration that Abia is preparing her children for the future.
Lady Lydia Onuoha, Executive Chairman of ASUBEB, highlighted the school’s facilities, which include 13 digitally equipped classrooms, an Early Childhood Care Development Centre, a modern library, a 30-seat ICT centre, a sick bay, and a dedicated girls’ room.
Mrs. Orieji Okwara-Emele, CEO of Blue Giraffe Development Limited, said the project would “shape young minds” and praised the Governor’s commitment to education.
Elder Godwin Obioma Mbaonu, President of Ubakala Improvement Union, expressed the community’s gratitude, describing the commissioning as “the opening of a new chapter of basic education” and “a gift of immeasurable value.”
He added, “This is a legacy of visionary leadership. Ubakala people stand to say thank you. We will show our appreciation in 2027.”
Beyond education, Governor Otti responded to community concerns, directing the Commissioner for Works to install speed limits on the Ubakala road and the Commissioner for Environment to address erosion in the area.
Earlier in the day, he had conducted the visiting Minister around other ongoing projects, including the Nnenna Otti Bus Terminal and the new Governor’s Office complex in Umuahia.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by senior government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole, and Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, alongside commissioners and other dignitaries.