By Sophia Afolabi
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has commissioned 6,375 newly employed education workers, comprising 6,030 teachers and 345 non-teaching personnel, for service in public schools across the state.
The exercise took place at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre in Owerri, where Uzodimma said the recruitment was necessary to fill existing manpower gaps in the state’s primary and secondary schools.
The governor said his administration was determined to improve the status of teachers and make their welfare a major component of its education policy.
“I want to make Imo teachers the most important civil servants in Imo State,” Uzodimma said.
He disclosed that the newly recruited teachers had been assigned to schools within their local communities, explaining that the arrangement was designed to improve staffing in underserved areas and limit the concentration of teachers in urban centres.
He further disclosed that the government would provide the teachers with digital devices to support their work. He also encouraged them to take ownership of school facilities, maintain proper sanitation and build stronger relationships with parents and community leaders.
The governor added that teachers would enjoy preferential consideration in the payment of salaries and access to other welfare provisions under his administration.
Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, said the recruitment followed a detailed evaluation of staffing requirements in schools across the state’s 27 local government areas.
He described the exercise as part of the government’s wider intervention in education, which, according to him, includes the recovery and renaming of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, formerly Eastern Palm University, and the creation of additional tertiary institutions.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Maduako Philomena expressed gratitude for the opportunity and assured the government that the new employees would discharge their duties responsibly and support its education policies.
The event featured the symbolic presentation of computer tablets to selected teachers, while others were directed to receive theirs after their biometric enrollment.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Governor Chinyere Ekomaru, federal lawmaker Eugene Dibiagwu, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, Secretary to the State Government Cosmas Iwu, Chief of Staff Nnamdi Anyaehie and other members of the state executive council.
