Abia Govt Probes Alleged Harassment, Certificate Fraud at State Varsity, Commences 2026 School Census

The Abia State Government has constituted a five-member Special Investigative Committee to probe allegations of harassment, bribery and certificate forgery involving staff and students of Abia State University.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Executive Council meeting presided over by Alex Otti.

According to Kanu, the committee is chaired by Prof Caleb Ajagba and was established to uphold academic and ethical standards in the state-owned university.

He explained that the committee’s terms of reference include identifying perpetrators and making appropriate recommendations to the Visitor to the university.

“The committee will also identify implementation gaps and address any other matters relevant to the ongoing transformation and restoration of Abia State University as a citadel of learning and excellence in teaching and research,” Kanu added.

Meanwhile, the state government also announced the commencement of the 2026 Annual School Census across the three senatorial zones of the state.

The exercise, which began on Monday, is expected to last for one month and is aimed at generating reliable educational data for planning, policy formulation, and access to the Hope Education Intervention Grant.

Kanu explained that the census would provide critical information needed to improve decision-making and strengthen educational development across the state.

In a related development, the Abia State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education disclosed that it has established 140 learning centres across the state to provide educational opportunities for adults and underserved communities.

The agency said the initiative was designed to assist persons who missed formal education earlier in life to acquire learning opportunities through flexible and non-formal education programmes.

The government further revealed that the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) recently organised a training and capacity-building programme for 265 headteachers and 206 Early Childhood Care Development teachers.

According to him, the programme aligns with the state government’s human capital development agenda and is aimed at improving effective school management and learning outcomes in public schools.

“The course is in line with the capacity-building agenda of the Abia State Government for effective management of schools in the state for better outcomes,” the Commissioner said.

The government reiterated its commitment to improving educational standards, strengthening institutional accountability, and expanding access to quality education across the state.

Commissioner for Poverty Elevation and Social Protection, Mrs Blessing Ngozi Felix and General manager ASEPA Ogbonnia Okereke were present at the briefing.