The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted full accreditation to five academic programmes at Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, following an accreditation exercise conducted in October and November 2024.
Disclosing this at the Government House in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, stated that the fully accredited programmes — Law, Agriculture, Mass Communication, Educational Management, and Planning — will retain their status for the next five years.
In a move to further boost academic standards, the state government has approved N800 million for the purchase of engineering equipment for ABSU and granted a recruitment waiver to enable the hiring of lecturers in key departments.
Kanu added that Governor Alex Otti has fulfilled his pledge to renovate the university’s male hostel, with the project set for commissioning before the end of May. Construction of a new 5,000-bed capacity student hostel has also commenced.
The commissioner also revealed that the government has approved the long-overdue promotion of staff at Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba — the first since 2008. Payment of salary arrears owed to both dismissed and resigned staff has begun.
Celebrating academic excellence, Kanu noted that the polytechnic recorded a 100% pass rate in the first phase of the 2nd National Institute of Science, Laboratory, and Technology modular practical exams, and a 99% pass rate in the second phase.
He commended the institution’s recent innovations, including the development of an online clearance platform and an ongoing curriculum overhaul to accommodate emerging courses such as Artificial Intelligence.
On developments at the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu (ASCETA), the commissioner announced the inauguration of a panel to probe the activities of the recently suspended provost. He said infrastructural works are currently ongoing at the college.
Regarding employment in the education sector, Kanu confirmed the recruitment of 5,300 teachers who completed the first phase of the process, adding that the second phase will commence soon with the application portal reopening in the coming days.
