COVID-19: Abia tertiary institutions shut

COVID-19: Abia tertiary institutions shut

By Ijendu Iheaka
Aba (Abia) March 23, 2020 (NAN) As part of measures to check the spread of Coronavirus in Abia, tertiary institutions in the state have been shut in compliance with Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s directive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor had, on March 20, directed the tertiary institutions to close indefinitely pending when the pandemic would stop.

He said that each of the institutions would access N10 million to connect and teach students online during the closure.

No case of the disease had been reported in the state so far.

A check by a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shows that Abia Polytechnic, Aba, has complied with the directive, although  few students and staff were seen around apparently making final arrangements to depart.

Mrs Chinyere Eze, the institution’s spokesperson, confirmed to NAN that most students had gone home.

Also, Ms Zara Ezenwoko, the Public Relations Officer of Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology, Aba, said that the institution had equally complied with the directive.

She, however, said that lecturers and other staff would be coming to the institution to render skeletal services.

The Provost, Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, Dr Philip Ntoo, however, said the institution would  not  be shut  totally.

He said that the directive did not imply shutting completely.

Ntoo said that the school already had facilities to key into the governor’s directive that Abia tertiary institutions should access grant to host online tutorials for students while at home.

Also, the Public Relations Officer of Abia State University, Uturu, Mr Achor Elendu, said that students vacated the campus on Sunday. (NAN)
IEI/ENN/IGO
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Ijeoma Popoola