IT was the late John F. Kennedy, the 35th American President who once said: “Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation”.

This notable quote from one of the world’s great leaders was a pointer to the importance of education, especially in a developing country like ours.

This was aptly recognised, digested and adopted by the present administration in Abia under the able leadership of Chief Theodore Orji since he assumed office as governor in 2007. A clear testimony to the effect was his quick and unbridled interventions in the decayed education sector in the state, which his government has sustained till today.

As a product of public schools, Orji in 2008 reactivated the Abia State Scholarship Board that has been comatose for years. The sum of N10, 000 each was given to 1000 students of Abia origin in different schools as bursary grants for the year. Since then, the now well-funded Board has offered scholarship to many indigenes of the state for degree and postgraduate degrees at home and abroad.

For pupils and students in primary and secondary schools in the state, apart from tuition-free education policy in place, fleets of buses have been provided for them in the Free School Bus Scheme of the present administration.

Those of us who are teachers and had our promotions delayed for years by the previous administrations without any explanation or reason had every cause to be happy now as the situation changed immediately Governor Orji won his second term election. It was a promise he made to us before the election and fulfilled it immediately he won the election. Added to the promotions was the increase in minimum wage.

As a mark of success of the present government’s intervention in the education sector, the state in 2008 came second in the South East zone in the attainment of Universal Basic Education, UBE, goals according to the ranking released by the National Universal Basic Education Commission. Since then, the state has emerged second twice, and first once, of which they were given the sum of N70 million as star prize.

Most public schools in the state, which were in dilapidated state and calling for urgent attention as they were no longer conducive for learning and teaching, have been renovated and re-equipped by the government. They included National High School Aba, Girls Secondary School Umuahia, St. Joseph Model Secondary School Aba, Government College Umuahia, School for the Deaf Ntalakwu Oboro and renovation is ongoing in so many others.

Also under the Education Trust Fund Projects, classroom blocks were erected at National High School Aba, Egwuama Girls Secondary Abiriba, Girls Commercial School Aba, Umuokpara Secondary School Umuahia, Community Secondary School Isieke, Amari Senior Science Ikwuano and others. At the last count, not less than 250 public schools have been renovated and equipped by the government since 2008 and presently massive construction and renovation are ongoing in other public schools across the state.

Textbooks, chairs and other materials have been regularly and adequately provided for the teachers, pupils and students in the public schools in the State to make teaching and learning easier and a worthwhile experience. That is why the state has been performing well in national and international academic competitions.

At the two technical schools in the state, namely Boys Technical College Aba and Government Technical College Ohafia, eight buildings each have been refurbished and renovated in each of them.

Also receiving adequate attention from the state government since 2008 till now are the state-owned tertiary institutions, especially Abia State University Uturu where Orji’s predecessor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu attended as a sitting governor of the state to obtain first degree certificate. When Governor Orji assumed office in 2007, monthly subvention to Abia State University was N80 million, but Governor Orji increased it to N120 million immediately.

Apart from the increment in the subvention, government injected huge funds in the institution for the full accreditation of all the courses that had before now suffered accreditation problems due to the inadequacies and lapses in both human and material resources in the school. Today, all the courses in the school had gotten full accreditation and the students are happy for it.

The backlog of students in the Nursing Department of the institution who have been denied graduation due to the non-accreditation of the department heaved a sigh of relief recently with the restoration of accreditation in the department following interventions from the state government that worked so hard for it by construction befitting edifices at Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba and provided other things needed for the full accreditation.

The same thing happened at Abia State Polytechnic Aba which the government have helped in ensuring that all their courses were given full accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE.
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Our Mission Statement
Our Vision
Our Objectives
Our Values
Our worldwide contacts.

Mission Statement:

To ensure that leaders at all levels of government in Abia State deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Vision:

To engage Abia indigenes and residents in enlightenment programmes that focus on qualities of good governance and service delivery by all levels of government.

Objectives:

1. To demand good governance from the leaders of Abia State by approved legal means and through regular and periodic town-hall meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, rallies, legal actions, investigative journalism and other acceptable pressure group gimmicks and methods.

2. To increase and sustain political education and public awareness of the activities and or failures of public office holders through the above-stated means.

3. To ensure adequate protection of the civil rights and freedom of Abia State citizens.

4. To serve as the alternative mouth piece of the citizens of Abia State.

5. To act as a catalyst for achieving enduring unity, peace and integration among component bodies of Abia State.

6. To encourage the state and local governments of Abia State to embark on serious and visible educational, health, agricultural and infrastructural developmental programmes.

7. To hold both the state and local governments accountable and responsible to the people of the state.

8. To fashion out and employ benchmarks for periodic assessment of the performance of elected and appointed leaders in Abia State.

9. To encourage and reward policies, achievements and excellence which positively impact the citizens or residents Abia State.



VALUES:

. Integrity

. Respect of rule of law

. Good leadership

. Equality

. Accountability

. Innovation.


Recognition:

The Abia Awakening is getting stronger by the day and millions of Abians are catching the vision worldwide.

The Abia Awakening (TAA) is committed to work with other organizations in the Diaspora and Abia state that are dedicated to good governance and the rule of law in Abia state.

We are committed to collaboration, transparency and volunteerism in the pursuit of our goals for a better Abia state.


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1. That TAA is owned by an individual:
Answer: No. TAA was initiated by some persons who came together for the purpose of demanding good leadership.

2. That TAA is being sponsored by Politicians or Groups of people.
Answer: False. TAA is sponsored by it members and has no plans for seeking sponsorship from any politicians other than its members.

3. That TAA is a Political Party:
Answer: Wrong Assumption: TAA is a non-partisan group that advocates for good governance of our Abia indigenes.

4. That TAA was initiated by hungry/political office holders for relevance:
Answer: No. Most initiators are young professionals in different endavours and are doing very well. Besides, they are fulfilled and need no political recognition from the government.

5. That TAA hates opposing views on its discussion:
Answer: No. TAA allows everyone to air their views on any issues being discussed as long as such does not abuse or insult any commentator.

6. That TAA will soon be bought over:
Answer: Wrong Perception. TAA is solid and most decisions are taken by a Board and not one person.

7. That TAA is anti government and particularly hates T.A. ORJI.
Answer: TAA is not anti-government and doesn’t hate T.A. Orji; rather, TAA only hates & abhors bad governance.

8. That TAA is a group for a particular zone:
Answer: This is erroneous view. TAA is not tribalistic. Infact, TAA is a group of Abians who have their state at heart and for the good of all Abians.

9. That TAA is autocratic in her operations:
Answer: TAA has basic Rules and Terms guiding comments and contributions on its wall; ignorance of them wont be an excuse for being penalized to ensure credibility of the group.

TAA ADMIN
PRODUCT OF THE ABIA AWAKENING (TAA) 2012
Email: joinus@theabiaawakening.com

AS I WAS SAYING....Yea, The REVOLUTION IN ABIA STATE EDUCATION SECTOR ARE THESE LEAKY AND DILAPIDATED BUILDING PICTURES. CARRY GO...OCHENDO

Sorry but these tales by moonlight coming out of Abia, what exactly does the Governor intend to accomplish with all this?

My mum was recently in Abia and she explained that it does not seem much is being done apart from the usual which we have come to expect from Governors who like to put plaster here and there to make outsiders think something is happening. What revolution in Education are you all speaking of?