Abia Government to Establish Tuition-Free Skills Acquisition Schools
The one-year residential program will offer training in various skills including solar power assembling and installation, POP designing and installation, painting, masonry, and tiling, among others. Graduates of the program will be equipped with funds to start their own businesses upon completion.
AKACHI NOEL 
The Abia State Government has announced its intention to establish tuition-free schools across the three senatorial zones in the state. The schools will focus on training young people in skills that are currently lacking in the state, aiming to empower them for self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
The State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, revealed this while briefing newsmen in Umuahia after the Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
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The one-year residential program will offer training in various skills including solar power assembling and installation, POP designing and installation, painting, masonry, and tiling, among others. Graduates of the program will be equipped with funds to start their own businesses upon completion.
Prince Okey Kanu emphasized the government's commitment to training individuals who will acquire skills and be self-reliant, rather than providing conventional forms of empowerment like tricycles (Keke) and the likes.
He highlighted the shortage of artisans in the state and the government's determination to address this by training local youth in various trades, thereby reducing reliance on artisans from outside the state and country.
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Additionally, the Commissioner announced the suspension of the monthly sanitation exercise scheduled for Saturday due to the commissioning of a geometric power plant. He encouraged residents to ensure cleanliness in their immediate environment despite the suspension.
Furthermore, the government has banned driving against traffic (one-way traffic) in all parts of the state, emphasizing the need to uphold the rule of law and do things right. This measure is part of the government's efforts to promote safety and orderliness on the roads.
In preparation for the forthcoming commissioning of the Geometric Power Plant in Aba, the supply of gas to the plant has commenced, sourced from Owaza in Ukwa West LGA.
Regarding the contamination of the Aro Ajatakiri stream, the Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, stated that the state government is investigating the source of the contamination, including waste disposal methods of companies in Umuahia. He assured that the findings of the investigation will be made public soon.
In conclusion, the Abia State Government's initiative to establish tuition-free skills acquisition schools reflects its commitment to empowering its youth with practical skills for self-reliance and economic independence.
