Gov Mbah Reaffirms Commitment To Education, Investment At Agbaja Summit

Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has restated his administration’s commitment to expanding investment in education, boosting job creation, and strengthening inclusive governance across the state.

Represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof Sam Ugwu, at the Agbaja Summit 2025 in Enugu, the governor said the state would continue to prioritise human capital development as the foundation for long-term prosperity.

The summit, themed “Reviving Our Culture, Building Our Heritage,” featured a colloquium and panel sessions led by notable academics and public figures including Prof Okechukwu Oji, Monsignor Prof Obiora Ike, and Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon Uche Ugwu.

The speakers commended the administration for its education reforms, especially the rollout of 260 smart schools and the shift toward experiential learning to equip young people with globally relevant skills.

They also praised the state-wide vocational and skills acquisition centres offering training in digital literacy, creative enterprise and other vocational pathways, describing them as critical to helping youths transition from dependency to self-reliance.

Governor Mbah said the reforms were central to his administration’s goal of building a productive, innovation-driven 24/7 economy capable of generating sustainable jobs.

He noted that investments were also being extended to the healthcare sector to ensure that every community including Agbaja felt the impact of governance.

“The future we seek is one where no community is left behind where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive,” he said, urging Agbaja youths to take advantage of the opportunities being created.

He added that the 260 smart schools with digital classrooms, laboratories and a reformed curriculum were designed to shift students from rote memorisation to coding, robotics, critical thinking and problem-solving, positioning them for global competitiveness.

Summit Records and Communiqué Committee Chairman, Prof Okechukwu Oji, said the 2025 edition focused on education after reviewing gains from the previous summit on economic development.

He said the discussions were aligned with the state government’s reforms and ongoing grassroots initiatives championed by the Agbaja intelligentsia.

Chairman of the Summit, Prof Chike Anibeze, said the focus on skills development was strategic for repositioning Agbaja youths for emerging opportunities.

Other speakers including Senator Osita Ngwu, former Minister of Power Prof Chinedu Nebo, Mrs Loretta Aniagolu, Dr Ugochukwu Chime and Fr Ikechukwu Ani, emphasised the importance of vocational and technical skills for sustainable livelihoods.

The event ended with the presentation of awards to distinguished Agbaja indigenes recognised for their contributions to the community’s development.