Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has announced automatic lecturing appointments and postgraduate scholarships for all first-class graduates of Abia State University (ABSU), alongside a N200 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 graduates 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 Head of Service to identify vacancies in the civil service for absorption of 100 outstanding graduates from the combined sets, giving priority to disciplines such as Education, Computer Science, Statistics, and health-related fields.
To boost youth entrepreneurship, Otti earmarked N200 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 N5 million to the overall best graduating student, Mrs. Oluchi Etumsi.
He also congratulated honorary award recipients, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Chief Executive of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, and notable Pharmacist, 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 graduates 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 had a pass out of the total of 10,255, including 690 postgraduates.