Otti offers automatic jobs, scholarships to ABSU first-class graduates
2026-03-28 - 09:14
...unveils a ₦200m business grant; the best graduate gets ₦5m. 69 bags First Class @ 30th-32nd convocation By Steve Oko,UMUAHIA Governor Alex Otti has announced automatic lecturing appointments and postgraduate scholarships for all First Class graduates of Abia State University (ABSU), alongside a ₦200 million business support fund for young entrepreneurs. The governor made the announcement on Friday during the institution’s combined 30th–32nd convocation ceremony held at Uturu. Under the new initiative, all First Class graduands will be offered employment as graduate assistants, subject to the completion of their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The offer, he said, also extends to the best graduating students across departments with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 4.25. “I am glad to announce that approval has been given to the university management to immediately commence the process of retaining all first-class graduates as graduate assistants,” Otti stated. He further disclosed that all First Class graduates from the three convocations would receive postgraduate scholarships up to the doctoral level in any public university of their choice within Nigeria, contingent on accepting the teaching positions. In addition, the governor directed the State Head of Service to identify vacancies in the civil service for the absorption of 100 outstanding graduates from the combined sets, with priority given to disciplines such as education, computer science, statistics, and health-related fields. To boost youth entrepreneurship, Otti earmarked ₦200 million to support up to 100 graduates with viable business ideas, particularly in agriculture, ICT, and clean energy. Applicants are to submit proposals electronically on or before April 30, 2026. In a personal gesture, the governor awarded ₦5 million to the overall best graduating student, Mrs Oluchi Etumsi. He also congratulated honorary award recipients, including Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Allen Onyema, and Stella Okoli, urging them to uphold the values of excellence and service. Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to education, Otti said efforts were underway to reposition ABSU to compete with leading universities globally, stressing that investment in learning remains the strongest foundation for societal development. The governor also flagged off the reconstruction of the ABSU International Secondary School. Otti had earlier, during the inspection of various ongoing infrastructural developments on the campus, inaugurated a 5-megawatt power substation built by his administration to end decades of power challenges at the institution. In their separate remarks, Chancellor Mrs Catherine Uju-Ifejika, Pro-Chancellor Rt Hon. Agwu U. Agwu, and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ndukwe Okeudo commended the governor for his sustained support, citing improved staff welfare, prompt salary payments, and ongoing infrastructural development within the university. Meanwhile, a total of 69 graduands made first class in the three sets, while 3,973 and 4,764 had second class upper and lower divisions, respectively. One hundred and ninety-five made third-class honours, while only one graduand had a pass out of the total of 10,255 graduands, including 690 postgraduates.