Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has commissioned a new Smart School in Umuomaiukwu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to technology-driven education while promising local and international scholarships for outstanding pupils.
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Speaking during the inauguration, Otti described the Smart School as a strategic investment in the future of Abia’s children, saying the facility is designed to equip learners with the digital skills, creativity and critical thinking needed to thrive in a knowledge-based economy.
The governor urged pupils to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the government, stressing that tuition and other learning costs would be fully funded.
“You do not have to worry about school fees because the government has provided everything. Your responsibility is to study hard, dream big and make the most of this opportunity,” he said.
Otti announced that exceptional pupils would be rewarded with local and international scholarships and other incentives aimed at encouraging academic excellence.
He also warned against vandalising public infrastructure, revealing that the school is equipped with 24-hour internet connectivity and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance to safeguard the facilities.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Goodluck Ubochi, said the Smart School initiative reflects the state government’s resolve to modernise public education through innovation and technology.
According to him, the school integrates advanced learning tools, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality and renewable energy solutions, to prepare pupils for future careers in science and technology.
Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Mrs. Lydia Onuoha, disclosed that the school can accommodate more than 300 pupils and features modern classrooms, STEM laboratories, ICT facilities and dedicated welfare spaces, including a menstrual hygiene room for girls.
She added that the Smart School model is designed to produce globally competitive learners through technology-enabled education, with plans underway to establish more Smart Classrooms across the state’s 17 local government areas.
Also speaking, renowned scholar Prof. Okey Ndibe commended the governor’s investment in education, describing the Smart School project as a foundation for sustainable development and a significant step toward positioning Abia as a hub for quality learning.
Managing Director of Blue Giraffe Development Limited, Mrs. Orieji Okwara-Emele, said the initiative would expose children to global learning opportunities and strengthen their digital competencies from an early age.
The commissioning forms part of the Abia State Government’s broader education reform agenda, which seeks to expand access to technology-driven learning and prepare young people with the skills required to compete in an increasingly digital global economy.
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