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 journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
According to the commissioner, the establishment of the committee forms part of the government’s efforts to uphold academic and ethical standards in the institution.
Prince Kanu stated that the committee would be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, and tasked with identifying those responsible for the alleged misconduct and making appropriate recommendations to the Visitor of the university.
He explained that the panel would specifically investigate allegations of bribery against a lecturer as well as claims of forged certificates linked to the same individual.
The commissioner further disclosed that the committee would assess the level of implementation of the white paper issued following the 2024 visitation panel investigation into the university and identify any existing implementation gaps.
He added that the committee would also examine other matters relevant to the ongoing transformation and restoration of the state-owned institution as a centre of academic excellence.
Speaking further, Prince Kanu announced that the 2026 Annual School Census across Abia State commenced on Monday. He said the exercise was designed to provide the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education with reliable data for planning, policy formulation and access to the Hope Education Intervention Grant.
According to him, the census exercise would cover both public and private schools across the three senatorial zones of the state and would last for one month.
The commissioner also revealed that the Abia State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education had established 140 learning centres across the state to support individuals who missed formal education opportunities earlier in life.
He noted that the agency plans to extend the initiative to underserved communities across the state.
Prince Kanu further disclosed that the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board recently organised training and capacity-building programmes for 265 headteachers and 306 Early Childhood Care Development teachers to improve school administration and learning outcomes.
The commissioner also announced that the Abia State Government would host the Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe on Friday, May 15, 2026, in celebration of his 85th birthday anniversary.
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