Benue SUBEB Chairman, commissioner partner over challenges facing education sector 

The Executive Chairman, Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Grace Adagba, alongside members of the Board and Management, has paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Margaret Adamu, at the state secretariat in Makurdi.

Speaking during the visit, Dr. Adagba said the purpose of the visit was to familiarise with the Commissioner upon her assumption of office. 

She expressed optimism that Dr. Adamu would work to move the ministry forward while commending the immediate past commissioner for his contributions, and added that she was confident that under Dr Adamu’s leadership, the Ministry would continue to make meaningful progress in transforming the education sector.

The SUBEB boss noted that there were priority areas requiring urgent attention, especially in the area of private basic schools, citing the challenge of incomplete school census data, explaining that the omission of private schools often denies the state opportunities for international grants, including those from UNICEF.

Adagba, in a press statement by Emmanuella Akese, the information officer, also emphasised the need for staff training and a child-centred approach to addressing challenges in the education sector. 

She stressed the importance of the federal government’s Hope Education Programme, noting that accurate and comprehensive data was a prerequisite for the state to benefit.

“With Governor Alia’s commitment to advancing basic education in the state, we are gradually moving from infrastructural development to quality delivery in our schools,” she said.

Responding, the commissioner, Dr. Adamu, in the company of her Permanent Secretaries and Directors, commended Adagba’s presentation and assured that she would work towards repositioning the ministry for greater development. 

She pledged to ensure that all agencies and parastatals under the ministry align their efforts for the progress of the state.

She acknowledged SUBEB as the first organisation to pay her a courtesy call since her assumption of office and said the gesture was highly appreciated.

Adamu highlighted that the issue of a credible school census would be prioritized, while appreciating Governor Hyacinth Alia for his transformative initiatives in the education sector, including the construction of modern schools, provision of State-Of-The-Art facilities, recruitment of over 9,000 teachers, and prompt payment of salaries and pensions.

The commissioner further listed recent reforms introduced by the ministry such as the implementation of the 9:3:4 system of education, compulsory ICT instruction in schools, promotion of skills acquisition through handwork, introduction of insurance cover for Learners, and a ban on customised textbooks.

ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE