The supervising minister of Education, Barr Nyesom Wike has commissioned the Abia state office of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB in Mgbarakuma, Ubakala in Umuahia South local Government area.
Speaking on the occasion, Wike expressed President Jonathan’s gratitude to Gov. Theodore Orji for his support of the president’s transformation agenda, particularly in education sector, stating, “He has shown support to the President both in terms of words and in action”.
The Minister said the transformation agenda of the President is evident in JAMB’s results as well as in the repositioning of the education sector where more than 12 JAMB offices have been commissioned.
He further disclosed that of all JAMB offices he had commissioned in the country, Abia state office is the best, and thanked Gov. Orji for giving land for computer based centre and paying the necessary compensation for a proposed vocational centre for youths out of school, stating that the support means well for the state than being antagonistic to the Federal Government.
In his speech, the Chairman, JAMB Governing Board, Barr peter Eze said the Federal Government has spent much money to ensure that JAMB cues into digital age through computer-based examinations, describing Abia as one of the states producing the highest number of JAMB candidates with more than 80,000 candidates each year.
He urged the state governor to assist Abia candidates in future JAMB examinations by establishing computer-based centers in each of the state’s three senatorial zones to ease the problem of cheating during examinations.
Earlier in his speech, the registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. ‘Dibu Ojerinde thanked Gov. Orji on his numerous assistance to JAMB in the state, disclosing that JAMB will phase out “pen and paper” examination next year to embrace computer-based examinations.
He pleaded with the state government to ensure the safety of their land, stating that the commissioning includes a 126-capacity computer centre, and will be expanded.
Responding, the Abia state Governor, Theodore Orji said the state is peculiar in the sense that his administration does not joke with education, which he takes as the business of the state.
The state, he said has two agenda in their political priority; security and health, and take education as their business, hence JAMB considered this and decided to build in the state,
He described the building as an encouragement for the state and a sign of recognition, considering the number of candidates from the state seeking admission through the Board.
Orji commended President Jonathan for providing the environment and the transformation in the education sector and establishing universities in the country.
The governor thanked the Mgbarakuma community for donating the land and advised other communities in the state who want development to be willing to donate lands as his administration is willing to pay compensations.
He advised the Federal Government to consider taking over a polytechnic in the state, Abia Polytechnic Aba of College of education, technical Arochukwu as Abia remains the only state in the country without a Federal polytechnic.
