The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has commended Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for prioritising education and human capital development, describing the state’s reforms as a strong foundation for improving learning outcomes.
The commendation was given by the UNESCO Head of Office and Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jean‑Paul Ngome‑Abiaga, during a courtesy visit by a UNESCO delegation to the governor at Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area on Tuesday.
Ngome-Abiaga praised the progress recorded in Abia State since 2023, particularly in infrastructure development, fiscal discipline, and the government’s deliberate focus on strengthening the education sector.
He noted that reforms introduced by the Otti administration were already producing visible results, especially in improving access to quality education across the state.
The UNESCO official specifically commended the state government for allocating about 20 per cent of its annual budget to education, describing the move as a significant commitment to developing the state’s human capital.
Ngome-Abiaga also revealed that UNESCO has been collaborating with the Abia State Government on several initiatives, particularly in health education and capacity building within schools.
According to him, the partnership has led to the training of more than 1,000 teachers on health education, engagement with over 700 community and religious leaders on HIV and health awareness, and the participation of more than 300 schools under the Abia First Education Programme.
“All these initiatives began when the Abia First Education Programme was launched. We appreciate that effort and would like to continue supporting the government in advancing this important agenda,” he said.
He further urged the state government to deepen collaboration with UNESCO by increasing budgetary support for health education and expanding partnerships in areas aligned with the organisation’s mandate.
Ngome-Abiaga assured the governor that UNESCO remains committed to providing technical expertise and institutional support to help design and implement programmes in education, science, culture, communication, and information.
Also speaking during the visit, the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, highlighted the Africa Social Impact Summit, a platform convened with the United Nations system in Nigeria to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
She explained that the summit, launched in 2022 after the global COVID-19 pandemic, promotes collaboration among governments, the private sector, and development organisations to address key socio-economic challenges.
Ibekwe disclosed that the initiative has already helped unlock over $100 million in development financing and also referenced the Business Coalition for Education, a programme launched in partnership with the Office of the Vice President to address Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis through private sector participation.
She invited Governor Otti to participate in the upcoming summit scheduled for July 22–23 at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos and encouraged Abia State to join the coalition as a pioneer public sector partner.
Responding, Governor Otti expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit and reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to strengthen partnerships with UNESCO and other development organisations.
The governor described the proposed collaboration as essential to tackling key challenges such as the high number of out-of-school children and the need for improved health education.
Otti also revealed that the Abia State Government currently allocates 20 per cent of its budget to education and about 15 per cent to the health sector, reflecting the administration’s commitment to human development.
He explained that the government introduced free and compulsory education after discovering that school fees were a major factor responsible for keeping many children out of school.
According to him, the policy has led to a significant increase in school enrolment across the state, prompting the government to recruit thousands of teachers, reconstruct school infrastructure, introduce smart schools, standardise curricula, and improve security in school environments.
The governor assured the UNESCO delegation that Abia State would continue working closely with development partners to strengthen the education sector and reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state.
