The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation 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 UNESCO Head of Office and Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Jean-Paul Ngome-Abiaga, gave the commendation during a visit by a UNESCO delegation to the governor in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, on Tuesday.

Ngome-Abiaga further commended Otti for the progress made in Abia State since 2023, particularly in infrastructure development, fiscal discipline, and education.

He noted that the reforms introduced by the Otti-led administration since assuming office were already yielding visible results.

Ngome-Abiaga lauded the state government for allocating 20 per cent of its budget to the education sector and disclosed that UNESCO has been working closely with the state government and its institutions, especially in the area of health education.

He said, “Our collaboration has resulted in the training of more than 1,000 teachers on health education, the engagement of over 700 community and religious leaders on HIV and health awareness, and the involvement of more than 300 schools under the Abia First Education Programme.

“And all this started when you launched the Abia First Education Programme. So we would like to thank you for that, and we would like to continue to support you in that very important agenda.”

Ngome-Abiaga urged the state government to further deepen collaboration with UNESCO, increase budgetary provisions for health education, and expand partnerships in areas within the organisation’s mandate.

He added that UNESCO is ready to provide technical expertise and institutional support to the Abia State Government in designing and implementing programmes in education, health education, and other areas within its mandate.

“We are here in this country because our mandate focuses on education, science, culture, communication, and information, and we are here for you.

“We are here to assist you, to support your work, and we would like you to know that we are available any time you need such support.

“We would like to continue together and to support you. We will put all our technical expertise at your disposal in any area you need it,” he assured.

Also speaking, 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 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

She said the summit, launched in 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic, was designed to promote multi-sector partnerships among government, the private sector, and development organisations, adding that it has already helped unlock more than $100m in development financing.

Ibekwe also spoke about the Business Coalition for Education, launched in partnership with the Office of the Vice President to address the challenge of out-of-school children in Nigeria through private sector participation.

She invited Otti to participate in the summit scheduled for July 22–23 at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos and urged Abia State to join as a pioneer public sector partner in the coalition.

In his remarks, Otti thanked the delegation for the visit and expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with UNESCO and other development partners.

“What you came with is a request that no one can say no to partnership, support to reduce the number of out-of-school children, and a call for more investment in health education.

“Those are good, and they are imperative for a government that is serious,” the governor said.

He explained that the Abia State Government currently devotes 20 per cent of its budget to education and 15 per cent to health.

The governor recounted how his administration introduced free and compulsory education after discovering that school fees were a major factor keeping children out of school.

He said the policy led to a surge in school enrolment, prompting the government to recruit thousands of teachers and embark on massive school reconstruction, the introduction of smart schools, curriculum standardisation, and improved security for school facilities.

Otti assured the delegation that Abia State would continue to work closely with UNESCO and other partners to strengthen the education sector and reduce the number of out-of-school children.