Abia State government has declared that the ongoing Abia Soccer Festival is designed to fish out hidden talents from the Ward to LGA levels and redirect the youth to useful ventures. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu who made the revelation in Umuahia, explained that there was community play-offs at LGAs, even as he reiterated the government decision to prioritize sports in the state. On electricity, the commissioner stated that the government, in a move to boost the reforms in the state’s power sector, has released a final draft of the state’s mini-grid regulations. The mini grid, he announced, was developed to support the expansion of reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity access across underserved and unserved communities across the state. Prince briefed newsmen at the Government House, Umuahia on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti. According to him, the mini grid initiative aligns with the broader vision of Governor Otti for enhanced rural electrification through private sector participation and enabling regulatory settings for mini-grid development. He opined that when the initiative becomes operational, it would be of much benefit to communities across the state, especially those in the northern part of the state which appear to be more underserved. The commissioner said “This initiative aligns with the broader vision of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti for enhanced rural electrification through private sector participation and enabling regulatory settings for mini grid development. “The draft regulations outline the legal, technical, and commercial framework for mini grid operations. And this is a vital step towards building a transparent and enabling environment for decentralized energy systems in Abia state.” He also revealed that a 10-man Abia Advisory Council on electricity set up to render professional advice to the governor on issues concerning power and electricity in the state would be inaugurated on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The advisory council, he further informed, will form one of the strategic steps taken by the state government to improve on the power sector of the state. The commissioner used the opportunity to disclose that the government has donated a 1,000 kVA transformer that will serve Niger Street by Bende Road, Methodist by Okwulehe Street through CPS, all in Umuahia. The transformer, Kanu said, is meant to serve residents in those parts of Umuahia, adding that it is in fulfilment of the state government’s initiative to ensure regular power supply for Abians across the state. On the provision of water in the state, the Abia information commissioner asserted that in line with the Otti’s pledge to provide potable water for every household in Abia state, the Okwoyi Water Scheme project, located in Iseke, Ibeku in Umuahia North would be commissioned on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. On computer training, he stated that Abia TechRise Cohort 2 Computer Based Test (CBT) has been fixed on Friday, July 25, 2025. While revealing that so far, a total of 8,167 applications were received, the commissioner stated that a total of 1,407 applications were unsuccessful because of invalid or fake Abia State Social Identification Number (ABSIN) the applicants attached to their online applications. The Commissioner who informed that the state successfully hosted the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) stakeholders Town Hall engagement tour last week, noted that action has already begun for the state’s 2026 Business Enabling Reform Action Plan (BERAP). He added that plans are already ongoing to ensure that Abia takes a rightful place among the comity of states in Nigeria. Recall that Abia State moved from number 33 to 21 in the Ease of Doing Business rating index. This, the commissioner stated, is expected to move the state’s rating on the Ease of Doing Business Index upwards whenever the 2025 ratings for states are released. In attendance at the briefing were the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ukoha Njoku Ukoha.