ABIA RECEIVES COMMEMDATION FROM FG AND UNDP FOR ITS INNOVATION DRIVEN TECHNOLOGY AGENDA..

The Federal Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) say they are happy with Abia stategovernment for its innovation-driven development agenda.

The Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the commendation when he led a Federal Government delegation alongside Senior UNDP officials on a courtesy visit to Governor Alex Otti in his Nvosi country home office.

Speaking during the visit, the Vice President Shettima described Abia as Nigeria’s manufacturing hub, noting the state was the most suitable location for the innovation hub.

Senator Shettima said that the facility would complement the state’s long-standing reputation for enterprise and industrial production as well as help local talents translate their natural abilities into globally competitive innovations.

Also speaking, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Mrs Ahunna Eziakonwa, described the UniPod project as evidence of the UNDP’s commitment to delivering practical development outcomes.

The UNDP Assistant Secretary General, said the initiative represents “a demonstration of humanity”, adding that it reflects the organisation’s determination to transform lives through concrete development interventions.

She expressed confidence that the initiative would contribute significantly to innovation, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment and that the innovation hub would position Abia as a key player in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, support the state’s growing technology and manufacturing sectors.

Responding, Governor Otti thanked the Federal Government and the UNDP for selecting Abia as the host of the innovation hub and assured them of his administration’s commitment to ensuring the project’s success.

The governor said the true measure of the project’s success would be its impact on local industries, entrepreneurs and technology innovators.

He directed the state government to ensure that student data for the 2025 and 2026 academic sessions are uploaded to the Digitalised Nigeria Education Management Information System ,D-NEMIS, before the end of this month.