The National Mass Literacy Commission of Nigeria has commenced the building a Modern Community Learning Centre in Abia State.

Executive Secretary of the commission, Jibril Paiko, said at the foundation laying ceremony of the Modern Community Learning Centre in Akpuga Mgboko Amaise in Obingwa Local Government Area that the centre would boast of facilities such as library, classrooms for non-formal education progrmmes, vocational and skills acquisition centres, among others. It will be completed in 12 weeks.

The Executive Secretary, represented by a Director in the Commission, Dr (Mrs) Victoria Nwachukwu, said that Abia was chosen as one of the 13 pilot states to benefit from the programme which the commission was executing in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC.

He explained that the siting of the project was in line with the core mandate of the commission which is to eradicate illiteracy through formal education approach, skills empowerment of adults and youths in particular, adding that the commission has already released equipment to be used in the centre.

The wife of the governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, in message she sent to the occasion through the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Lady Chinedu Brown, restated her preparedness to partner the Commission in her women empowerment programmes. Mrs Ikpeazu said the project was in line with her vision to empower Abia Women economically.

Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji, commended the commission for siting the project in Abia, saying that it was in line with the Education for Employment initiative of the Dr Okezie Ikpeazu administration and thanked the people of Akpuga Mgboko Obingwa for donating their land for the project.

Executive Secretary of Abia State Agency for Mass Literacy and Non-formal Education, Chief G. I. Akara, noted that the project go a long way in cushioning the effect of the economic downturn and enhance the living standard of the people.

Traditional Ruler of the land donor community who is also the Chairman of Abia Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Eberechi Dick, assured that the community would protect the facilities and thanked the federal government, which according to him, will empower his people and reduce unemployment in the country.