…As Rector fixes January 2026 for relocation to Osisioma permanent site
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
It was celebration galore on Tuesday at the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba (formerly Abia Poly), as Governor Alex Otti fulfilled his promise of awarding ₦1 million each to 150 outstanding graduates of the institution.
The grant, first announced during the 2024 convocation ceremony, is intended to help the beneficiaries establish businesses of their choice.
Presenting the cheques, the Rector, Dr. Christopher Kalu Okoro, described the gesture as unprecedented in the institution’s history and a major boost for academic excellence and youth entrepreneurship.
“This is the first time in the history of our country that a state government will be giving out such an amount of money, not for political reasons, but to empower the younger generation,” he said.
According to him, the beneficiaries were drawn from three sets of Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates—from 2021/2022 to 2023/2024. Each had earlier submitted business proposals evaluated by a panel.
“To qualify for the grant, you must have graduated between 2022 and 2024 with at least a CGPA of 3.00 (upper credit). You must also have applied for the grant, completed all clearance processes, and collected your certificate,” the Rector explained.
He urged the graduates to invest the funds wisely.
“This money is not for Brazilian hair, bone straight, or Bet Naija. It is expected that this money will grow and make you a bigger person so that tomorrow, you can give back to society. It’s a grant, not a loan.”
The Students Union Government (SUG) President, Comrade Michael Maduka, applauded the Governor, saying the gesture would motivate students to strive for excellence.
Some beneficiaries also expressed gratitude their.
Joseph Egwuatu, an Accounting graduate who runs a poultry accessories business, said the fund would support expansion. Another, Cyril Emmanuel, a Business Administration graduate, said he would invest in his shoe-material business with plans to create jobs for 10 youths. Harmony Nduka, a Mass Communication graduate engaged in printing, said she would acquire more equipment to grow her business.
Landmark achievements under Otti
Earlier at a pre-convocation press conference, the Rector highlighted the institution’s progress under Governor Otti’s administration. He said 17 new programmes— including Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, and Mechatronics—were introduced in 2025 and fully accredited.
He added that 14 previously existing programmes, including Mass Communication which had lacked accreditation for about 15 years, had now been accredited.
Dr. Okoro disclosed that he had abolished the issuance of statements of results and simplified certificate collection, issuing over 30,000 certificates in less than two years.
He also stopped the sale of textbooks and handouts to curb exploitation, insisting that lecturers were employed to teach, not to sell materials. Skill acquisition is now compulsory for all students.
The Welding and Fabrication Department, he noted, now produces doors for public schools and buckets for ASEPA, significantly improving the institution’s internally generated revenue and increasing student enrollment in the department.
He also listed other achievements supported by the Governor, including a 250-capacity lecture theatre, internal road asphalting, improved staff welfare, and clearance of salary arrears.
Relocation to permanent site begins January 2026
Dr. Okoro announced that academic and administrative activities would commence at the Osisioma permanent site by January 2026, following major infrastructural development funded by the Otti administration.
He added that the Governor had approved the construction of separate 5,000-capacity hostels for male and female students, noting that the relocation would be phased.
