The Abia State Government has concluded plans to upgrade eight Schools of Nursing and Midwifery to a full-fledged Colleges of Nursing Sciences. 

The eight Nursing Schools will be merged with one main campus with the main campus in Umuahia. 

Disclosing this during a press briefing in Umuahia, the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the intention of the state government is to make the study of nursing the best and enhance the qualification and production of top-grade nurses. 

His words, “This move is aimed at enhancing the qualification and production of top-grade nurses in the state.” 

On the provision of quality education in the state, Kanu stated that as part of the state agenda to reform the educational system, the state government would soon train 2000 master trainers for teachers in the state. 

Kanu who was briefing the press on the outcome of this week’s executive council meeting presided by Governor Alex Otti, disclosed that already 200 teachers had passed through the training while the remaining 1,800 would have theirs soon. 

He announced that Abia schools would reopen on September 16, 2024, pointing out that the Abia State Basic Education Board, (ASUBEB) has screened, interviewed and shortlisted 40 teachers for training under the Abia State School Enhancement Team Programme, a quality assurance initiative, preparatory for the resumption of the schools in the state. 

According to him, the posting of security personnel to public schools in the state has begun a measure which he said is aimed at safeguarding lives and property in the schools. 

“This is part of the wider agenda of the state government to reform our education system. Also, as part of the ongoing reform agenda in the educational system, the promise that the state government has made in the past has come to fulfillment with the posting of security personnel to our schools. 

“Posting of security personnel is aimed at securing the lives and property of both the students and teachers including the property of the schools involved”, he added.