Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, says the State Government is ready to host the 63rd Nigeria National Committee Meeting of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
Governor Otti was speaking on Tuesday in his office while receiving in audience a delegation led by the Branch Controller of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mrs Mary Chima.
The State Chief Executive thanked WAEC for choosing Abia State for the meeting, describing it as a great privilege for the State.
“We thank WAEC for the choice of Abia. We already have a receipt of your letter and have started making arrangements,” Gov. Otti stated.
“We can assure you that we are prepared to host. We consider it a great privilege to be hosting this year’s event.
“I assure you that we will put everything ready to receive you and to ensure that you have a memorable event here in Abia.” Gov. Otti assured.
Governor Otti said that the reason the delegation settled for the choice of Abia is a testament to the education-friendly policy of his administration. He added that he is still poised to do more for the development of Abia State.
“It aligns with everything we are doing with education. If you were here in 2023 when we came, we declared an emergency on education, health, security, infrastructure, and environmental sanitation.
“These were areas where we were lagging. Education was in a very terrible state, not just in terms of infrastructure that had completely decayed in virtually all the schools, but also in terms of the quality of teaching, the number of teachers, and the curricula,” Gov. Otti added.
“We still have a lot of the schools undergoing renovation as we speak. We already know what we are doing with teachers, not just teachers, but teachers that are well-trained.
Governor Otti further directed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, to open the portal again for the recruitment of another set of 5,000 teachers.
Earlier, the Branch Controller of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Abia State, Mrs Mary Chima, said that they came to inform the Governor that Abia has been chosen to host the 2025 WAEC Nigeria National Council Meeting, which will hold from 17th to 21st of November, 2025, in Umuahia.
She said that the choice of Abia is a recognition of the Governor’s commitment to education and the growing partnership between WAEC and the Abia State Government
“Your Excellency, Sir, the choice of Abia State among the five Eastern states is a great recognition of your administration’s exceptional commitment to educational excellence, discipline, and reform.
“What is the importance of a national council meeting? The WAEC Nigeria National Council Meeting is the highest policy-making body of the council in the country.
“It brings together State Commissioners of Education, Heads of WAEC Offices, and Senior National Officers to deliberate on policies, review performance indices, and make far-reaching decisions that shape examination standards and educational direction nationwide.
“Under your exceptional leadership, Sir, Abia has maintained a top record of performance in WAEC examinations nationwide. Abia upheld strict compliance with examination ethics and has given WAEC unrestricted cooperation,” Mrs Chima stated.
The Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, and other top Government officials were present in the meeting.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
21 – 10 – 2025.
