The Federal Government has charged Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to redouble its efforts towards eradicating the incidence of Out-of-school children in the state.
The Director, Basic and Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education (FMOE), Hajia Binta Abdulkadir gave the charge at the ceremony for identification and enrollment of out-of -school children in Benue State.
The Director, represented by Mrs Abuka who doubles as the leader for the FMOE team in the state, in an address said UNICEF reports that Nigeria accounts for one in every five out of school children in the world and 45 percent out- of-school children in West Africa; while Benue state accounts for 260,000 out-of-school children in Nigeria.
She pointed out that the above scenario places Benue on the list of states with low school enrollment rates.
“It is on this basis that Apa and Gwer-West Local Government Areas were selected in the pilot phase of the enrollment drive campaign.”
She further stated that, this exercise was taking place simultaneously in Benue, Nasarawa and Zamfara States in the first series of interventions carried out by the Federal Ministry of Education.
State Commissioner of Education, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar appreciated the Minister for Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu for finding Benue state deserving of this laudable gesture.
Ityavyar said education is the bedrock of any economy and as such should not be toyed with.
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He commended Governor Samuel Ortom for creating an enabling environment for meaningful progress to thrive in the education sector just as he sued for the sustenance of the enrollment programme.
The Executive Chairman, BSUBEB, Mr. Joseph Utse represented by the Permanent Member II at the Board, Mr. Johnson Egli-Ahubi, thanked the Federal Ministry of Education for choosing Benue state for the enrollment drive activity.
He particularly thanked the Minister of Education for changing the fortunes of 75 Pupils selected from Apa and 75 from Gwer-West Local Government Areas through the identification/ enrollment programme.
Mr. Egli Ahubi said the uniforms, socks, sandals, books, school bags, stipends and child care items for early childhood education donated to the beneficiaries by FMOE is highly appreciated adding that he was optimistic that the move will help take Benue state out of the list of states with prevalence of out of school children.
The Ter Nagi, Chief Daniel Abomtse represented by Mue Ter Sengev, Chief Agboko appreciated the synergy between SUBEB and Federal ministry of Education which has culminated into the enrollment of out of school children in his domain.
He promised to encourage well meaning sons and daughters of Tyoshin Development Association to key into the programme for its sustenance and for their benefit.
