Professor of Educational Measurement And Evaluation at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) Abia state, Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa has underscored that assessment for policy and decision making is an imperative for sustainable development .

She also submitted that it would tantamount to risk making decisions in the dark without assessment that provides the empirical basis upon which policies are formulated , built upon, monitored , and evaluated.

Professor Akanwa said this while delivering the university’s 65th Inaugural Lecture entitled ” Assessment For Policy And Decision Making: An Imperative For Sustainable Development” stressing that policies shape and guide actions, translate research outputs/findings into practice, decisions define destinies, while assessment provides the empirical basis upon which policies are formulated, built upon, monitored and even evaluated.

Professor Akanwa, who is the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Development, explained that the Lecture topic was both timely and necessary, given that ” we live in an era where data-driven policies significantly influence the effectiveness of our educational systems, healthcare delivery, financial systems, governance, institutional frameworks, and indeed, the pursuit of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs)”.

Her lecture, which was structured into key sections that reflect both the theoretical and practical dimensions of assessment for decision-making, explored Assessment in Perspective, drawing from classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory ( IRT) to underscore their implications for policy and sustainable development.

According to Akanwa ” Assessment is not an end in itself , but a means to learning, to equity, to justice, and to development, and in its broadest sense, refers to the systematic process of gathering, interpreting and using information to make judgements about learners, programmes, institutions or policies”.

Arguing therefore, that assessment is the heartbeat of policy and decision-making , she posited that without it, sustainable development becomes a mirage.

” Without a credible assessment, policymakers cannot know whether reforms are effective, teachers cannot identify students’ strengths and weaknesses, giftedness and creativity in individuals may not be identified in order to harness them for guidance and development”, and that without it ( Assessment ) , society cannot measure progress toward development goals”.

Professor Akanwa therefore tasked Governments to adopt holistic and well balanced approach in policy and decisions making in line with current realities in order to engender sustainable development goal.

” Effective assessment for policy and decisions making are imperative and the key for socio economic growth, and sustainable development of every society. If Governments put in place evidence-based and achievable plans in policy assessment and decision making, the living standards of the people would be enhanced”.

She also made three recommendations namely; that, TETFUND and other funding agencies should prioritize research in assessment evaluation as a strategic area for national development, encourage universities to establish centers of excellence in educational measurement and evaluation that serve as think-tanks for evidence-based policy, and including provision of grants for innovative projects that integrate nutrition, ICT, and education outcomes similar to the iGarri project.

According to Professor Akanwa, investing in assessment innovation will pay dividends by strengthening human capital development and policy effectiveness.

Lauding professor Akanwa’s Lecture that had thousands of people from across various walks of life in attendance, including students, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, who presided over the session, described the lecture as educating, enriching, and enlightening on policy and decision making, and assessment.

He called for the collaboration of critical stakeholders in policy and decision making and assessment to ensure that policies are in accord with the demands of the 21st century, predicting that the lecture would impact/ guarantee successful decision making, foster transparency, accountability, policy formulation reforms, among the stakeholders, towards driving sustainable development goal.

WRITTEN BY GORDI UDEAJAH

General Manager of Umuahia ( Abia State ) Capital Development Authority ( UCDA) Mr Kingsley Agomoh and the state Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects ( NIA ) have corroborated that the proposed new state capital in Umuahia should be designed for Strength.

They did so during the NIA two day 2025 Forum that ended at the weekend in Umuahia, and had the theme ” Design For Strength: A Focus On New Umuahia Capital City “.

The State NIA Chapter Chairman Architect Emmanuel Nwankpa in his address , said that the Architects Forum, which is held annually alongside the World Architects Day ( WAD) on first Monday of October, serves as a veritable platform for industry experts , policymakers, stakeholders, progressives from all walks of life, to review topical environmental and physical development issues that have dominated the center stage of global discourses, and consider the impact of the physical environment on the people’s everyday lives.

Architect Nwankpa also stated that state Chapter adopted this year’s global theme “Design For Strength “, and that the theme finds ready expression and relevance in the vision and policy of the current Abia state government, regarding the new Umuahia capital city that is on the horizon.

Agomoh, ( the UCDA general manager ), who was the Guest Speaker, commended the Architects for choosing a theme that speaks directly to collective aspiration to build, not just structures, but a legacy of strength, resilience, and purpose for Abia state.

He also enjoined other Stakeholders in the building industry to champion the New modern Umuahia Capital Territory being envisaged by the Abia state Governor Dr Alex Otti , to reflect a City powered with vision through collaboration that redefines sustainable growth.

He said that the focus on strength could not have come at a more defining moment than now that the people live in an age that demands resilience, innovation and foresight, noting that “across Nigeria and beyond, cities are being redefined, not by size, but by the strength of their design , the clarity of their purpose, and the inclusiveness of their growth”.

He therefore tasked Architects to design not just buildings , but the future of the people, positing that a truly strong design outlives trends, anticipates change, absorbs shock, nurtures the human spirit, and gives a city both its backbone and soul.

Governor Otti, who was represented by the Facility Manager, Government House, Architect Onuka Ukwa, said that his administration has set to move big in the Umuahia development space in response to the growing population numbers, and translate the new Umuahia Capital City dream into reality.

The governor therefore beckoned Architects to identify with the government, make inputs in the project outlines and share their concerns , indicating that necessary support will be given them.

In a paper titled ” Professional Engagement In Real Estate: A Strategy For Urban Development”, a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Chief Lekwa Ezutah, said that professional engagement in real estate refers to the active and ethical involvement of trained, certified and regulated practitioners in the process of land acquisition, development, valuation, management and investment , stressing that professionals must reposition themselves as strategic partners, not contractors for design or approvals, but as co-drivers of Urban transformation.

He maintained that it requires professionals to move beyond technical design to play strategic roles in shaping investments, policy and community outcomes to ensure that decisions in real estate are informed, data-driven and sustainable, adding that Urban Development must therefore be driven not by speculation or politics , but by professional expertise, ethical standards and strategic planning.

” Real Estate can either build or break cities, while Urban Development that is not guided by professionals is development without direction, stressing that when professionals collaborate effectively, cities grow in a planned , equitable , and resilient manner”

According to Ezutah, professional engagement in real estate is not an option, but a duty, and the surest strategy for achieving orderly , sustainable and inclusive Urban Development.

Explaining further he said “Real Estate Development acts as a driver of Urban growth, while Urban Planning provides the framework for orderly Real Estate Investment; Real Estate is the Engine, while planning is the steering . When the two are aligned, settlements grow sustainably, but when disconnected, we have urban sprawl and it’s attendant challenges and disadvantages”.

Ezuta therefore called for strengthening of professional engagement in real estate practices and development, stressing that there is nexus between Real Estate and Urban Development

According to the Oxford Learners Dictionary, road construction is the process or method of building or making roads.

It involves the design, building and maintenance of roads, highways, and other transportation infrastructure to Create safe and efficient routes.

Indeed the milestones by the Dr Alex Otti Administration on road construction play a Crucial role, because it stimulates economic growth by improving markets access, job creation and enhancing social connectivity, making transportation easier for the people.

No doubt, good road network especialy those in the hinterland boosts the quality of ife and accessibility to services like healthcare, Agriculture and improve property value, among others
Unarguably, the Umuahia ikwuano-ikot Ekpene road, which is a federal road, is one of the important roads that link Abia State to States like Akwa Ibom, Cross River and adjudged one of the busiest and economically viable roads in the Southeast and South South Zones of the country.

Historically, the forty nine-kilometer Umuahia-ikwuano-ikot Ekpene road was first reconstructed during the President Olusegun Obasanjo Administration in 1999, by HAPEL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
Since the collapse of the road, successive administrations, including that of President Good luck Jonathan, have publicly announced the award of contracts for the reconstruction of the road, with no tangible results.

Over the years, the dilapidated condition of the federal road led to loss of lives and property, with people and students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia, having repeatedly protested over the dilapidated condition of the road which has led to the death of students of that institution at one time or the other.

Despite several remedial works done on the road by the Federal Road Maintenance
Agency,FERMA and the Government, the road has continued to be a nightmare for motorists especially those on business trips, agricultural purposes, and social services, among others.

However since the award of contract for the rehabilitation of this federal
Road by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2019 at a cost of thirteen point two billion naira, the reconstruction work has not been intensive, which the contractor blamed on poor funding.

More so, since the claims by some notable individuals and politicians from Abia State about attracting the contract and funding of the road through NNPC, much has not been done as several sections of the road became death traps for the citizenry.

The hopes of the people were high when the present Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi visited the road some months ago, to ascertain the extent of work, done, and since then it seemed that his visit, like that of his predecessor Prof Babatunde Fashola, did not yield much as the condition of the road continued to worsen with communities that make use of the road finding it difficult to evacuate farm produce and connecting to the neighboring states, including those on interstate journies.

Happily, the recent pronouncement of the State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, on the takeover of the reconstruction of the 49km Umuahia-lkot Ekpene federal road, which has been fixed for flag-off
on Friday, 24th October 2025, came as a big relief to millions of Abians and motorists.

In truth, the Governor’s intervention on the dilapidated and comatose lkwuano-Umuahia-ikot Ekpene road demonstrates his administration’s genuine commitment to the infrastructural development of the state, which has placed Abia’ in the past two and a half years on a higher
pedestal.

There is no doubt that if the Umuahia-ikwuano-lkot Ekpene federal road is fixed, it will not only enhance the value of property in that axis but, will safeguard the lives and property of
people who make use of the road and contribute to the economic development of not only Abia state, but the Southeast and South South Zones in general.

Optimistically, the road users believe that the State Government will expand the road from the current size to accommodate heavy vehicles plying on it as well as install its trade-mark streetlights and durable drains to the joy of Abians along that axis and edification of the state.

Consequently, it is also expected that the reputable contractor that the state Government has secured for the road project will heed to the contractual agreement and deliver the road on
schedule.

In truth, with what the state Government has achieved in the over one hundred roads already constructed and reconstructed in the state, people are confident that the Umuahia Ikwuano-ikot Ekpene federal road’s present condition will soon be a thing of the past.

Written by
FRANCIS NWAUBANI
OF THE BCA