Pix shows Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, and his Local Government &Chieftaincy Affairs counterpart, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu during the briefing
17, 000 applicants jostle for 4, 500 teaching slots in Abia
Pix shows Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, and his Local Government &Chieftaincy Affairs counterpart, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu during the briefing
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Following the decision by Abia State to recruit 4, 500 teachers to beef up its teaching staff in Primary, Basic and Secondary Schools, the government has revealed that it has already received and processed over 17, 000 applications from interested candidates, days after the recruitment portal was made public.
The Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed this while briefing the press on the outcome of this week’s executive council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, emphasized that recruitment of the teachers would be strictly based on merit.
The portal, domiciled in the Ministry’s website: www.mobse-abiastate.ng.com. was launched on January 27, 2025. But by Febraury 5, 2025, Prince Kanu said within the 10 days gap, and with four days to the shutting down the portal, over 17, 000 applications have been received. Going by the high rate of unemployment, it is being expected that about 40, 000 intending teachers may apply for the 4, 500 slots.
“So far about 17,000 applications have been received and processed and still counting,” Prince Kanu said, adding that “shortlisted candidates would be subjected to a computer-based test, after which those who pass such a test would attend the oral interview.”
“It is after that process that they would be finally recruited. But what is key here is that in all these, the exercise will be merit-based,” he said.
The Commissioner assured that the exercise would be transparent and would provide equal opportunities for all applicants.
Applicants were directed to visit the Ministry’s website: www.mobse-abiastate.ng.com. and follow the instructions to fill the form and submit same online.
Those eligible to apply, according to Elder Ubochi, must have NCE, BSC and Bachelor in Education with Post-Graduate Diploma in Education, adding they must not be more than 45 years of age. Furthermore, he said that applications must be submitted within two weeks from the date of the portal publication and release of guidelines.
The Commissioner explained that shortlisted candidates would be notified through SMS or Email for test, and that successful candidates in the test would be invited for an oral interview and Micro-Teaching Practice.
The recruitment is in fulfillment of the promise by Governor Alex Otti to recruit 5, 000 teachers during his inauguration on May 29, 2023.
Consequently, the Governor granted waiver to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to recruit 4, 500 teachers, a development that was confirmed by the Committee Chairman, Abia State Teachers Recruitment Exercise, Dr Uzoamaka Amah-Mba. She said that the recruitment process would be executed online and those who wish to apply should do so through the portal as physical submission of applications would not be allowed. “Every application will be completed and submitted online,” she emphasized.
Dr Amah-Mba, who is also the Board Secretary of Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), said that Governor Alex Otti has directed that the recruitment exercise must be devoid of any form of corruption, insisting that it should be free for both indigenes and non-indigenes residing in the state
