Unubiko Foundation Donates N500m To Abia Polytechnic, Builds 52 Homes For Less Privileged
2 years ago 2 min read
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The Unubiko Foundation has awarded the sum of N500m to Dr Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic (formerly Abia State Polytechnic) to support the infrastructural demands of the institution.
The Founder, Unubiko Foundation, Chief James Ume, disclosed this on Friday at the 19th-21st combined convocation ceremony for the year 2020/2021 – 2023/2024 students of the institution.
The polytechnic held the convocation for 3,138 National Diploma and 3,483 Higher National Diploma students.
The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, was special guest of honour at the ceremony.
Speaking with THE WHISTLER on the sidelines of the event, Chief Ume noted that the pledged sum is to enable the institution to expedite its infrastructure projects to create a conducive and sustainable environment for learning.
Chief Ume noted that disbursement of the N500m would be overseen by Governor Otti.
“The Governor would be in charge of the disbursement of the funds. The governor would also choose the particular project he wants for the school,” Chief Ume noted.
He added, “We are doing 56 units of two-bedroom homes for the less privileged in the state, all solar powered. It would be handed over by Christmas.”
Earlier during his remarks at the convocation ceremony, Governor Otti called for support from stakeholders to speed up the administration’s mission to enhance literacy in the state.
He had announced business grants of N150m to 150 exceptional HND graduates of the institution.
Otti also revealed his administration’s intention to retain the 20 per cent budget allocation to education, calling on all stakeholders to support the sector to enable individuals to keep abreast of emerging changes in the world.
He said, “In the 2024 fiscal year, we allocated 20 per cent of the entire budget outlay to the education sector, a clear difference from the old practice which allocated to the sector in the neighbourhood of just 5 per cent.
“I would like to reassure you that the proposed 2025 budget which by the way will be tabled before the House of Assembly on Tuesday, 20 per cent of the outlay will still go to education.”
Africa Fact Zone, in 2023, ranked Abia among the top five states with the highest literacy rate.
Abia came after Imo, Lagos, Ekiti and Rivers with a 94.24 per cent literacy rate and ahead of Anambra with 92.11 per cent.
