Gov. Alex Otti of Abia says his administration’s efforts to rebuild the education sector and restore quality learning across all levels are yielding encouraging results.

Otti said this on Tuesday in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, when he received a delegation of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) officials, ahead of the 2025 Annual Council Meeting scheduled to hold from November 17 to November 21 in Abia.

He said that education remains at the centre of his administration’s transformation agenda, following the state of emergency declared in the sector shortly after he assumed office in 2023.

“When we came in, education was in a very terrible state, collapsed infrastructure, poor teacher quality, and low enrolment.

“We rolled up our sleeves and went to work immediately,” Otti said.

He said the administration had since embarked on massive renovation of schools, introduction of smart classrooms, and the recruitment and retraining of teachers to improve learning outcomes.

“We began with training 2,000 master trainers under a ‘train-the-trainer’ scheme.

“So far, 5,394 new teachers have resumed, and we are recruiting another 5,000 to meet the required teacher-student ratio,” he said.

Otti also said that the reforms were aimed not only at improving examination results but also producing well-rounded students, capable of competing globally.

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“We are not just after good WAEC results, we want our children to be truly educated, not certificated illiterates.

“A society that neglects education will always pay the price later,” he said.

He commended WAEC for selecting Abia as host for its 2025 council meeting, describing the gesture as a reflection of confidence in the state’s education revival efforts.

“Hosting this meeting is a privilege that aligns perfectly with our vision.

“Abia is ready, and we promise to make it a memorable event,” Otti said.

He expressed satisfaction that the reforms were already reflecting in students’ performance and pledged continued investment in teacher training, digital learning, and curriculum development.

“Education is the most important responsibility of any government.

“Once we get it right, everything else will follow,” the governor said.

Earlier, the state Branch Controller of WAEC, Mrs Mary Chima, commended the administration’s remarkable commitment to education reforms, discipline, and excellence.

Chima said that the achievements informed the council’s decision to award the state the hosting right for the meeting.

She said that the meeting would bring together education commissioners, senior WAEC officials, and policy experts from across the federation.

“The choice of Abia among the five eastern states is a deliberate recognition of your administration’s exceptional commitment to educational excellence, discipline, and reform,” she said.

Chima commended the administration for maintaining Abia’s top performance record in WAEC examinations nationwide, strict compliance with examination ethics, and providing unprecedented support to the council’s activities.

She described the governor’s education reform initiatives, including the training of over 11,000 teachers and the construction of smart schools with digital learning facilities, as transformative and far-reaching.

“Your Excellency, under your leadership, Abia has remained a model of educational progress.

“Most notably, the 2024 WAEC Mathematics examination held peacefully across the state, in spite of threats from non-state actors — a testament to your firm and courageous leadership,” Chima said.

According to her, the peaceful conduct of the 2024 WAEC examinations underscored the State Government’s protection of education and its unwavering commitment to securing the future of Abia’s children.

She said that the meeting serves as WAEC’s highest policy-making platform in Nigeria, where stakeholders deliberate on policies, review performance indices, and make far-reaching decisions affecting educational standards nationwide.

She said that, in recognition of Abia’s cooperation, WAEC had extended special privileges to the state, including free access to educational data and the profiles of its top three candidates – services that ordinarily attract fees.

Chima further disclosed that prizes worth over ₦10.7 million, donated by the WAEC Endowment Fund Board of Trustees, would be presented to the three best schools, whose candidates excelled in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

She announced that council members would pay a courtesy visit to the governor on November 19 and appealed to the relevant state officials to expedite preparations for the successful hosting of the event.

“WAEC deeply values your visionary leadership and the conducive environment you have created for education to thrive.

“We remain grateful for your steadfast support and making Abia a model of educational excellence,” Chima said. (NAN)