Abia Government Partners Blue Giraffe To Establish 20 Smart Schools In Abia

The Abia State Government through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has signed an agreement with Blue Giraffe Development Limited for a contract to establish twenty smart schools in the three senatorial districts in the state.

Speaking during the contract signing in his office on Saturday, July 12, 2025, the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi said the contract is part of the state government’s efforts in reshaping and redefining education in the state.

Elder Ubochi who described the agreement as a historic milestone said it is aimed at repositioning basic and secondary education in the state to meet up with global best practices so as to make Abia children fit into the 21st century realities.

“This initiative is not only about infrastructure but a revolution in how learning happens. Abia students must be able to compete globally, and that begins with access to quality digital education.”

According to Elder Ubochi, the twenty pilot smart schools would be spread across the 17 local government areas in the state. He stated that each of the 17 local government would have one while one would be situated in each of the three major cities in the three senatorial zones.

Speaking further, the commissioner said the first phase of 9 smart schools are expected to be completed by September of 2025 while the second phase would be commissioned by December of this year. He added that the third phase would be in the first quarter of 2026.

To protect the schools, Elder Ubochi revealed that Abia State Homeland Security would be permanently stationed at each school which will house advanced learning technology including Smart Boards, digital registration systems, and surveillance equipment.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Sir Kenechukwu Nwosu emphasized that there are standard operational procedures put in place to ensure sustainablility even after the end of the present administration in the state. He said the project is to prepare Abia children to be competitive for the future.

Sir Nwosu, echoed the government’s commitment to safety. He warned that any attempt to damage or steal from the facilities would result in immediate prosecution, adding that CCTV cameras will be installed to monitor all activities within the premises.

“These Smart Schools are not temporary projects or white elephant schemes. They represent the digital future of Abia education, and we will not compromise their integrity,” Nwosu stated.

On her part, the Managing Director of Blue Giraffe Foundations Limited, Mrs Orieji Okwara Emele, who spoke on behalf of of the Chairman , Blue Giraffe Development Limited, Rear Admiral Harry Ngonadi, said her company understood what the governor is doing in the education sector which is why they have come to partner the state to actualize it, to make the state align with international best practices.

She said the Smart Schools would eliminate outdated teaching tools and replace them with interactive digital systems.

“We are phasing out chalk and analog tools. Teachers in these 20 pilot schools will now use Smart Boards, and more schools will follow.”

She appreciated the governor, Dr Alex Otti for the opportunity given for them to be part of the historic move to make education in the state more strategic, pledging that her company, as partners in progress would deliver.

Contributing, Mr Onyinye Nwosu, State Director Project Implementation Bureau, described the project as a “new dawn in Abia State’s educational journey.”

This development reflects a major policy shift in Abia State’s educational vision, from chalkboards to Smart Boards, from exclusion to equity, and from vulnerability to secured, future-proof learning environments. By investing in digital education and prioritizing security, Abia is positioning itself as a leader in Nigeria’s educational transformation.

Mr Onyinye, described the event as a new dawn in Abia and noted that student registration processes will be digitized, with enrollment free for all pupils.

This, he said, is part of a broader effort to align Abia’s education system with global standards and to make students more competitive in major examinations and technological pursuits.
The Contract agreement attracted the presence of the Home Land Security Agents, and other members of Blue Giraffe Development Limited.

While Elder Goodluck Ubochi signed for the Abia State Government, Mrs Orieji Okwara and Project Manager Nnamdi Ogbuagu signed for Blue Giraffe Development Limited.