Yesterday, we were pleased to receive a delegation of investors led by Dr. Oko Jaja, alongside Mr. Dennis Madu Nwakanma, CEO of MD Nwakanma Nigeria Limited. Dr. Jaja briefed me on the significant progress made towards the establishment of a $145 million solar manufacturing plant at Umuelele, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, in partnership with their Chinese counterparts.
I am delighted that the project has reached the Final Investment Decision stage. This is a resounding vote of confidence in the improving business environment we are building in Abia State. It further validates our vision of making our State a preferred destination for local and international investment.
We remain committed to providing every support necessary to ensure businesses thrive and investments are protected. We have done everything required to make the land available for the project, and we stand ready to provide every necessary support to ensure its successful implementation.
Beyond the investment itself, the project promises jobs for our young people, skills development, increased economic activity, and greater prosperity for our State.
I commend Dr. Jaja, the investors, and MD Nwakanma Nigeria Limited for their confidence in Abia. I am particularly encouraged that the first tranche of funding is expected by September 2026, with factory construction projected to commence before the end of the same month.
I am also pleased that young Abians are already being trained in solar installation and related technologies, with plans for selected workers to receive advanced training in China once operations begin.
Yesterday, we were pleased to receive a delegation of investors led by Dr. Oko Jaja, alongside Mr. Dennis Madu Nwakanma, CEO of MD Nwakanma Nigeria Limited. Dr. Jaja briefed me on the significant progress made towards the establishment of a $145 million solar manufacturing plant at Umuelele, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, in partnership with their Chinese counterparts.
I am delighted that the project has reached the Final Investment Decision stage. This is a resounding vote of confidence in the improving business environment we are building in Abia State. It further validates our vision of making our State a preferred destination for local and international investment.
We remain committed to providing every support necessary to ensure businesses thrive and investments are protected. We have done everything required to make the land available for the project, and we stand ready to provide every necessary support to ensure its successful implementation.
Beyond the investment itself, the project promises jobs for our young people, skills development, increased economic activity, and greater prosperity for our State.
I commend Dr. Jaja, the investors, and MD Nwakanma Nigeria Limited for their confidence in Abia. I am particularly encouraged that the first tranche of funding is expected by September 2026, with factory construction projected to commence before the end of the same month.
I am also pleased that young Abians are already being trained in solar installation and related technologies, with plans for selected workers to receive advanced training in China once operations begin.
Today, the T.N. Onodingene Family of Abor, Udi LGA, Enugu State, made this facility available for free to serve as one of the 2027 South East Mathematics Olympiad Preparatory Centre and also one of the official examination venues.
The facility features a 60-computer CBT centre, 24/7 internet access, a physical library, an 80-seat conference hall, and three dedicated workstations.
Students from any part of the country are welcome to use the facility free of charge.
This is the kind of investment in education that transforms lives and creates opportunities for generations to come.
We hope to see more families, individuals, organizations, and communities make similar contributions across the South East and beyond.
Please join us in appreciating the T.N. Onodingene Family for this remarkable act of generosity and their unwavering commitment to advancing education and empowering the next generation.
I've been thinking about this almost every day.
What would it actually take to ensure every single child in the South East is in school?
I don't mean reducing the number of out-of-school children.
I mean ZERO.
I'm setting myself a target:
Zero out-of-school children in the South East within the next 24 months.
And within 4 years, I want us to drive illiteracy as close to zero as possible.
I know it sounds ambitious.
There are children out of school because of poverty. Some because of culture. Some because of religion. Some because they have to work. Others because there are barriers we've not even identified yet.
But I genuinely believe this is a problem we can solve if we stop treating it as someone else's responsibility.
So I'm asking for your help.
If you had to achieve this, what would you do?
I want practical ideas. Bold ideas. Crazy ideas. Lessons from other countries. Community-based solutions. Technology. Policy. Anything.
I'll read every suggestion.
If we can solve this in the South East, we'll create a blueprint that the rest of Nigeria and maybe even Africa can learn from.
I need your honest opinion on this.
I think it's time we introduce the South East STEM Olympiad alongside the South East Maths Olympiad. One registration covers both competitions.
Our children have significant gaps in science, and we need to fix that as soon as possible.
I'm thinking we should split the prize money between Mathematics and Science.
We can hold both competitions on the same day but at different times.
I've been studying several world-class science curricula that are built on higher-order thinking and real-world application. We can develop our own curriculum specifically for the competition and share it with schools across the South East so they can prepare their students effectively.
What do you think?
We captured this beautiful moment as Egejurum Onyedikachi and Don-Anele Munachimso arrived at Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, yesterday to a true hero's welcome.
These are not football stars. They are not musicians. They are not politicians.
They are children.
Children who became the world's best in Mathematics in the Primary and Senior categories. Don-Anele Munachimso is also the world's best in Science.
The last literary figures from the South East to receive this kind of heroic public welcome were Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Watching our brightest young minds being celebrated like national heroes gives me hope.
For too long, we have celebrated almost everything except academic excellence.
That is beginning to change.
Education is reclaiming its rightful place in our society, and a generation of children is growing up believing that knowledge, hard work and excellence deserve standing ovations too.
This is bigger than two children.
This is the beginning of a movement.
Don-Anele Munachimso and Egejurum Onyedikachi were received like kings yesterday in Owerri.
They returned home with two gold medals from the International STEM Olympiad Grand Finale in Rome.
Together, they are the world's best in Mathematics in the Primary and Senior categories. Don-Anele Munachimso is also the world's best in Science (Senior Category).
This is what excellence looks like.
These children are not just champions; they are proof that Nigerian children can stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best in the world when given the opportunity.
They are stars today.
The world will celebrate them even more tomorrow.
This is not the peak.
This is just the beginning of greatness.
Master Chisom Unachukwu and Anthony Iwegbu are their maths teachers.
They helped their students conquer the world.
Their schools are Evergreen Schools Enugu and Diamond Special College Owerri.
What a day!
This is Mr. Benjamin, and he is in charge of assessments for the International STEM Olympiad.
He said that this year's exam was the toughest ever, and for our boys to get gold, it means they are far ahead of their peers.
Nigeria has the brightest untapped brains globally.
Educare received this special recognition from the International STEM Olympiad, Rome.
We will continue to build the right technology that powers education and also support our children to shine on global stages.
Don Anele Munachimso won 2 gold medals yesterday at the International STEM Olympiad.
He is currently the world’s best in Maths and Sciences.
He is also the best in IGCSE in Nigeria.
What a brilliant youngster!
Chimdiebube Onwubiko won a gold medal at the International STEM Olympiad.
He is just 13 years old and currently in JSS3. He has finished _Engineering Mathematics_ by K.A. Stroud.
He has now proven himself on the world stage.