Abia Varsity Secures NUC Re-Accreditation For Law, Agric, Others
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted full re-accreditation to key academic programmes at Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, following its October–November 2024 re-accreditation exercise.
Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing after the weekly Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
He said the re-accredited programmes include Law, Agriculture, Mass Communication, and Educational Management and Planning, with accreditation valid for five years.
“This is a major milestone, and it speaks to the prompt intervention of the governor in addressing accreditation issues shortly after assuming office,” he said.
To strengthen ABSU further, the government has approved the recruitment of lecturers across various categories to fill vacant academic positions in critical areas. According to him, the university’s governing council also received approval to procure engineering equipment worth $800 million.
He also stated that renovation work is ongoing at the 5,000-capacity male hostel following the governor’s unscheduled visit to the university, where he observed dilapidated facilities.
On student performance, Kanu announced, “All 164 ABSU students who sat for the Phase 1 modular practical exams of the National Institute of Science, Laboratory and Technology passed with a 100% success rate. For Phase 2, 157 out of 158 students passed, marking a 99% success rate.”
He further stated that at Abia State Polytechnic, currently Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, “all staff members have been promoted with full financial benefits,” describing it as “the first such exercise since 2008.” He said the payment of arrears to all disengaged and resigned staff had also commenced.
“The polytechnic is living up to its name as a foremost technological institution with innovations such as an online clearance platform, which eases the students’ administrative processes,” Kanu said, adding that the institution is also reviewing its curriculum to include emerging disciplines like Artificial Intelligence.
At Abia College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu (ACETA), he said a panel has been constituted to investigate the activities of the suspended provost, while construction work is ongoing to upgrade facilities. He also confirmed that In the area of basic education, the recruitment of 5,300 teachers has been completed, with another recruitment phase expected soon.
Kanu disclosed that the Council has set up a committee to oversee the commissioning of completed Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the 17 local government areas.
“One PHC will be commissioned in each LGA as a symbolic representation of others,” Kanu explained.
He added that the flag-off of the proposed Port Harcourt Road and Medical City has been postponed, due to the unavailability of the special guest slated to commission the project.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the second anniversary of Governor Otti’s administration. The programme will kick off on May 25 with a National Thanksgiving Service, followed by an Executive Council meeting on May 26, a Children’s Day celebration on May 27, an anniversary lecture on May 28, and a grand finale at the Umuahia Township Stadium on May 29.
Kanu further revealed that on May 23, the First Lady of Abia State, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, will host the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for a food outreach programme targeting vulnerable persons in the state. “The wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, and other dignitaries are also expected to attend,” he added.
Abia Varsity Secures NUC Re-Accreditation For Law, Agric, Others is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
