Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says more than 32,000 people have applied for the second phase of the state’s teachers’ recruitment exercise, as the government moves to employ an additional 4,000 educators.
The governor disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking at the funeral service of the late Chief Emmanuel Emeaso (Olu Eji Eje Mba I) in Umuekegbe, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, after a church service conducted by the Eziama-Nvosi District, Aba North Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Otti said the overwhelming number of applicants reflected renewed confidence in the teaching profession under his administration.
“The teaching profession was a dignified profession in the past, when people like Chief Emeaso and his contemporaries were teachers,” the governor said. “We have restored dignity to teaching, and today it is even more attractive than other civil service jobs in the state.”
He recalled that the state had earlier recruited 5,394 teachers who resumed duties in September but noted that the figure was insufficient due to increased student enrolment following the introduction of free and compulsory education.
“Because of the massive rise in enrolment, we realised that the number was not enough. That is why we are recruiting more teachers to strengthen the system,” Otti explained.
The governor assured applicants that the ongoing recruitment would be conducted strictly on merit, as was done in the previous exercise.
“Every applicant will be assessed fairly and transparently. Merit will remain the guiding principle,” he said.
Otti also highlighted ongoing construction and renovation of school buildings across Abia State, noting that the projects were aimed at restoring schools to acceptable standards and providing a conducive environment for learning.
Speaking on the late Chief Emeaso, the governor described him as a respected elder statesman and administrator who lived a fulfilled life, passing on at the age of 97.
“Despite the limitations of his time, he embraced education with uncommon passion and distinguished himself as a man of integrity and principle,” Otti said.
He noted that the deceased served in various leadership capacities, including roles in the National Party of Nigeria, the National Republican Convention and the All Peoples Party, as well as Chairman of the Isiala-Nvosi Council of Chiefs.
The governor was accompanied to the event by several political leaders and government officials from within and outside the state.
