Governor Soludo approves 3.9km road project at COOU Uli, restores electricity after 21 years, and boosts schools with tech tools, labs, and free education policy

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]nambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has approved the construction of 3.9 kilometres of internal access roads within the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Uli Campus, as part of an ambitious drive to transform the state’s education sector.

Also read: Soludo launches bold Anambra reforms on safety, education

The approval was granted during the 11th Executive Council Meeting (ANSEC), held at the Light House, Awka, on Thursday, 16th June 2025.

This development forms part of a wider set of interventions aimed at repositioning Anambra’s education infrastructure and restoring pride to public schools across the state.

Speaking to the press, the State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, said the road project reflects Governor Soludo’s commitment to deepening access to quality education by improving the physical learning environment.

“This is not just infrastructure. It’s an investment in minds and the future of Anambra,” Mefor noted, adding that the decision aligns with the governor’s ongoing policy to create centres of excellence within the state’s tertiary institutions.

Among other resolutions passed at the meeting was the approval for the rehabilitation of more public schools, particularly those neglected for years.

The government’s clearance of inherited counterpart funding arrears—up to 2024—has now unlocked expected federal contributions to support the fresh wave of school upgrades.

This is not just infrastructure. It’s an investment in minds and the future of Anambra.

In a move that underscores his digital learning vision, Governor Soludo has ordered the procurement of smart boards—an upgrade from earlier approved interactive boards—as well as tablets for teachers across 22 smart schools.

The ongoing reconstruction of Boys’ Secondary School, Uga, stands as a testament to this renewed focus on 21st-century education tools.

Governor Soludo has also extended his administration’s free education policy to cover students up to Senior Secondary School Year 3 (SS3), while recruitment efforts have seen the addition of 3,115 new teachers, bringing the total to 8,115.

More than 60 secondary school laboratories have now been equipped with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) resources, and operational budgets for schools have been significantly increased.

Marking a historic return to normalcy, electricity was recently restored to the Uli campus of COOU in Ihiala Local Government Area, after a 21-year blackout.

The campus now also benefits from a newly signed agreement providing free internet access—an essential tool for academic and research advancement.

Also read: Governor Soludo calls for new Nigerians, collective nation-building beyond politics

Governor Soludo’s steady rollout of reforms continues to receive praise across the state, as communities and stakeholders begin to see tangible results in classrooms, campuses, and local economies alike.