By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—GOVERNOR Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has directed the 17 Transition Committee Chairmen of the state to appoint persons living with disability as Special Assistants.

Governor Ikpeazu said the directive was aimed at reducing unemployment in the state and to give persons living with disabilities a sense of belonging.

Ikpeazu

The physically challenged who had seized any opportunity of meeting the Governor to ask that they be given opportunity to contribute to the development of the state by giving them employment.

The governor also warned his kinsmen of Abia South extraction not to expect for much favour as he is a governor for the whole of Abia State, not just for the Abia South.

Ikpeazu who spoke at the Abia State Polytechnic during a town hall meeting with the people of Abia South senatorial zone drawn from Obingwa, Aba South and Aba North council areas, however assured that his administration would carry everyone along.

He announced that the sum of N4b has been set aside for the renovation of 170 primary schools across the state. Ten primary schools would be rehabilitated in each of the 17 Local Government Areas.

Ikpeazu said youths with skills would be used in the schools rehabilitation exercise and encouraged them to patronize the Skills Acquisition Centres established by his administration to acquire skills that would make them self reliant.

Ikpeazu disapproved of the rush by youths to engage in the operation of Keke NAPEP, saying that it was not the best way to empower the youths, adding that his idea of youth empowerment was to have youths acquire skills.