February 26, (THEWILL) — Prospective teachers in Imo State can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the State Government has clarified the factors delaying the recruitment process following the conclusion of their examinations.
Speaking at the State Secretariat in Owerri on Friday, February 20, 2026, the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, urged candidates to remain patient. He disclosed that the government is currently verifying the authenticity of candidates’ degrees by contacting their respective Universities, Colleges of Education, and Polytechnics.
“I was not the Commissioner for Education at the time the initial applications and interviews were conducted. I previously served as Commissioner until 2021. I was re-appointed on April 2, 2025, and officially assumed office on April 7, 2025.
“The recruitment process began between 2023 and 2024. After I highlighted the urgent need for more educators to His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma, he authorised me to begin processing the applications”, Ikegwuoha explained.
According to the Commissioner, the exercise was initiated under the leadership of the former Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Ada Okwuonu, who oversaw the interviews for the teaching applicants.
“Following the training phase, we commenced a verification exercise. We discovered that many applicants failed to attach their First School Leaving Certificates (FSLC) to their original applications.
“We want to ensure that every individual we hire is fully qualified. Under my supervision, we will complete a thorough verification process. This vetting will continue even after appointment letters are issued to both teaching and non-tutorial staff in our primary and secondary schools.
“Applicants must wait. Once we conclude the current phase, successful candidates will receive their letters, followed by a final verification of their academic records. We want to avoid a situation where we employ someone only to discover later that their credentials are fraudulent. We are doing the right thing”, Ikegwuoha added.
The Commissioner further stated that 5,770 prospective teachers were trained during a needs-assessment exercise tailored to the specific requirements of each Local Government Area in the State.
“Of those 5,770 originally trained, circumstances may have changed for some. Some may have married, others may have passed away or moved abroad, and some might have secured employment elsewhere”, he observed.
He concluded by praising Governor Hope Uzodimma as an education-friendly leader committed to the welfare of the people, noting that under the current administration, primary and secondary education remains tuition-free in the state.
