Gov. Otti Announces 100 Million Grant To 100 Graduating Students Of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, As Institution Honours Late Ogbonnaya Onu With Posthumous Award

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, announced a one million naira grant each for 100 graduating students of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Aba. He also approved a 6 month field technical training programme for 200 students with strong technical skills. The announcement came during the 22nd convocation of the institution where 2,178 students graduated.

Otti explained that the 100 million naira grant targets graduates with feasible, bankable and scalable business ideas. He invited students who finished with Distinction to submit comprehensive business plans to his office through oggh@abiastate.gov.ng before December 31, 2025 for evaluation.

The Governor recalled that he earlier supported 150 graduates with one million each during the 2021 to 2024 combined convocation. He confirmed that the funds have been disbursed to qualified recipients. He said the state will monitor their progress and give more support to top performers.

He directed the Commissioners for Works, Housing, Power and Public Utilities and the heads of the three regional development authorities to design a 6 month field training programme for 200 graduates. The goal is to build young technical talent to support projects in roads, housing, electricity and water supply. He said Abia must stop losing its brightest graduates to struggles abroad.

Otti praised the management of the polytechnic for major achievements recorded within two years. He noted the rapid development at the permanent site in Osisioma which will be commissioned soon. He commended the Rector, Dr C. K. Okoro, for driving the transformation of the school.

The Governor presented a posthumous award to the family of late Dr Ogbonnaya Onu. He described Onu as a visionary leader whose ideas led to the establishment of the institution, formerly Abia State Polytechnic. He said renaming the school after him preserves his legacy as the first civilian Governor of Abia.

Chairman of the Governing Council, Engr Stanley Egege, thanked Otti for the support that made the school’s progress possible. Rector Dr Christopher Okoro reported that the institution has held three convocations in 14 years, with two occurring within his tenure due to strong state support. He added that the school now receives direct requests from organizations seeking their students for internships and industrial training.

He also announced that all 31 programmes submitted for accreditation passed through the rigorous process. He shared that activities will begin at the Osisioma campus by January 2026.

The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa, said malpractice has ended in the institution. Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof Eme Uche Eme, described the school as the pride of Abia State.

Awards were presented to the best graduating students across faculties. Nwosu Goodness Chimamanda from Computer Science emerged as the overall best student with a CGPA of 3.94.

The Governor attended the event with Sen Darlington Nwokocha, members of the State House of Assembly, the Secretary to the State Government Prof Kenneth Kalu and other senior officials.