The Abia State Ministry of Education was established in August 1991 following the creation of the State, and coordinated education from early childhood through to tertiary level.
In 2024, having examined the condition of basic and secondary education across the State, His Excellency Governor Alex Otti declared a state of emergency on education and directed that the Ministry be separated into two: the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, and the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education.
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education is headquartered at the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Secretariat in Umuahia. Its work is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4, the UNESCO Education 2030 Agenda, and the education pillar of the current administration.