Benue SUBEB, UNICEF targets zero out-of-school children

The Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has taken a decisive action to address the out-of-school children crisis as it convened a three-day multi-stakeholder workshop to develop the State Implementation Plan for Project BRACE-UP (Building Rights to Access and Compulsory Education for Un-enrolled Pupils). The workshop was held at the Board’s headquarters in Makurdi, in collaboration with UNICEF.

During the opening ceremony recently, the Executive Chairman of the Board, Dr. Grace Adagba, described the out-of-school children challenge as a pressing development emergency. She stressed that access to education must go beyond mere enrolment to ensure sustained participation and meaningful learning outcomes. Dr. Adagba commended the state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, for his significant investments in basic education and teacher welfare, while also acknowledging UBEC’s continued support in strengthening instructional delivery.

Highlighting SUBEB’s ongoing interventions, she disclosed the successful reintegration of an initial 500 children into schools across the state and announced plans to establish 50 non-formal education centres by September 2026, in line with the Accelerated Basic Education Curriculum (ABEC).

In her keynote address, Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Margaret Adamu, placed the state’s education challenges within the broader national context, citing the alarming scale of out-of-school children and the compounded effects of insecurity, displacement and economic disruption in Benue. She emphasised that Project BRACE-UP represents a decisive shift towards ecosystem-wide accountability, where government institutions, traditional and religious leaders, educators and communities collectively share responsibility for enrollment, retention and learning outcomes.

Joining the workshop in Makurdi, the UNICEF Chief Officer, Enugu Zone, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, highlighted UNICEF’s ongoing efforts to advance education in Nigeria and Benue State.

She stressed the need for Benue to prioritize girl-child education and inclusion as a foundation for societal development and pledged continued support in combating the out-of-school children phenomenon, particularly those living in Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps, emphasising that the future of every child matters.

Similarly, the UNICEF Education Specialist, Enugu Field Office, Mr. Believe Eke, equally reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to providing sustained technical and resource support and collaboration with the Board to achieve maximum impact on the Benue child.

The workshop was attended by Education Secretaries, LGEA Heads of Social Mobilization, representatives from the State Agency for Mass Education, representatives from Budget and Economic Planning Commission and SUBEB training institution, Rev. Fr. Adasu University Makurdi and Board members, as well as other key stakeholders spanning three days, have produced a practical, results-oriented implementation plan that will translate project BRACE-UP initiative into measurable impact.