Benue SUBEB enrols 500 out-of-school children, targets Mbakpiam school for intervention

From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi

Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has enrolled 500 out-of-school children under its Project BRACE-UP initiative as part of efforts to expand access to basic education across the state.

The board has also earmarked LGEA Primary School, Mbakpiam, Konshisha Local Government Area, for further whole-school intervention aimed at improving its learning environment.

Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Benue SUBEB, Comrade Patricia Gbuuga, said Project BRACE-UP was designed to identify, enrol and support children currently outside the school system.

She disclosed that 500 out-of-school children had so far been enrolled through the programme and provided with learning materials.

As part of the intervention, SUBEB also distributed 300 school kits across the three senatorial zones of the state, with 100 kits given to beneficiaries in each zone.

The intervention formed part of a grassroots advocacy campaign on greener schools and communities jointly organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Benue SUBEB, Benue Links Nigeria Limited and Makurdi Local Government Council.

The campaign was held in Zone A at RCM Pilot Primary School, Tordonga, Katsina-Ala; Zone B at the Ter Makurdi’s Office, Makurdi; and Zone C at RCM Primary School, Engila, Agatu.

Executive Chairman of Benue SUBEB, Dr Grace Adagba, said the campaign was aimed at encouraging schools and communities to become active participants in efforts to address climate change.

She linked the programme to the broader development agenda of Governor Hyacinth Alia, stressing that environmental consciousness should begin with children and be reinforced within their communities.

According to her, when children are taught to understand and protect their environment, schools could become powerful platforms for creating lasting behavioural change.

Adagba recalled that SUBEB had previously undertaken a Tree Planting Campaign under which 80 trees were planted in 40 schools across the state.

She said the board had also established Greening Clubs in 20 schools and trained 80 teachers drawn from 40 schools across the three senatorial districts on greening schools and climate change education.

Giving an overview of the environmental component of the programme, Director-General of the Benue State Council on Climate Change, Dr Daniel Mailumo, represented by Dr Steve Ahile, explained the effects of climate change and urged schools and communities to embrace tree planting and other environmentally sustainable practices.

He said deliberate community action was necessary to mitigate the impact of climate change and protect the environment for future generations.

The campaign brought together traditional rulers, local government officials, education stakeholders, parents, religious leaders, opinion leaders, School-Based Management Committees and other community representatives.

General Manager of Benue Links Nigeria Limited, Alexander Fanafa, and Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Council, Joseph Keffi, also expressed support for the initiative and commended the state government’s interventions in education.

The campaign across the three zones also featured symbolic tree planting.

Among traditional and religious leaders who participated were Mue-Ter Masev, Chief Clement Kurugh; Mue-Ter Ipusu, Chief Bernard Ayolave; District Head of Agatu, Chief Jibrin Abubakar; Chief Imam of Agatu, Ochepo Mohammed; and Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Terwase Ugbede.

In a related development, Adagba disclosed during a visit to LGEA Primary School, Mbakpiam, that the school had been earmarked for further whole-school intervention.

The SUBEB chairman, who inspected the school environment and interacted with community leaders, commended the people of Mbakpiam for maintaining the school premises, protecting government facilities and demonstrating strong community ownership.

She also donated a hand mower to the school to support regular grass cutting and improve sanitation.

Adagba said the proposed intervention was part of the state government’s efforts to improve infrastructure and learning conditions in public basic schools.

Responding, the Ortar of Mbakpiam, Zaki Augustine Wuaga, thanked the SUBEB chairman for the visit and donation and commended the Alia administration for its interventions in the education sector.

Wuaga said the interventions had contributed to increased enrolment in schools within the community and pledged that facilities provided by the government would be protected for the benefit of pupils and teachers.

Adagba also inspected ongoing construction and furnishing of schools in Zones A and B as part of SUBEB’s programme to improve learning environments across the state.