Governor Alia: Building Futures Through Free Education

There are approximately 260,000 out-of-school children in Benue State, a significant figure that requires vision and strategic thinking and investment to bring down substantially.

According to the Federal Ministry of Education, Benue is among the states with low school enrollment rates in Nigeria due to several factors.

This problem has not been lost on the visionary leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia, which has unveiled a strategic project to take these children to school and return those who dropped out back to the classroom.

This strategic thinking and planning manifested on Friday, 20th February 2026, during a twin event. The opening of Benue Basic Education Summit by Governor Hyacinth Alia, who also unveiled the “Brace Up Project”, institutionalised to identify and enroll out-of-school children by mobilising community leaders, parents, and teachers to identify out-of-school children, create flexible learning pathways, and track each learner’s progress from enrollment to completion across the state.

The governor made a solemn pledge at the event, that Benue State, under his watch, will continue to ensure catalytic funding as well as policy regulations that mirror the UBE Act and prioritize compulsory, free basic education for all Benue children.

Indeed the governor has taken various steps in fulfilling that pledge, which included the recruitment of over 9,700 qualified teachers to improve the quality of learning in public schools, just as he has sustained efforts in upgrading substandard schools and providing more support to vulnerable families.

In another bold statement during the launch of the “Brace Up Project”, Governor Alia declared that his administration has moved “from building schools to building futures”, a statement of fact when viewed from the investment so far made by the administration in the education sector.

Key achievements in the sector under the leadership of the governor include the construction of 422 classrooms, renovation of more blocks, establishment of 36 libraries, distribution of 7,000 whiteboards and 207,422 textbooks and workbooks, provision of 340 toilets and 17 motorized boreholes, recruitment of 9,700 teachers, consistent salary payments, harmonized retirement age, and introduction of TRCN allowance.

The government has also revived agricultural education through the distribution of 51,624 inputs and the creation of school farms across the three senatorial zones.

Most importantly, the Alia led administration has made education from Primary 1 to JSS 3 free and compulsory, has consistently paid salaries, and implemented the harmonized retirement age for teachers. By making basic education free and accessible, the Governor is saying no child of school age will be left out of school, a bold provision for the poor and vulnerable in the society, a provision that will prepare a solid foundation for the leaders of tomorrow.

However, to get to the desired level, parents, traditional and religious leaders, and other stakeholders must join the advocacy in enforcing the free and compulsory basic education. As the governor said, the future of the state depends on the young ones, and it is imperative for the leaders and stakeholders to prepare them for it.

For critical stakeholders, the launch of the Building Rights to Access and Compulsory Education for Unenrolled Pupils (BRACE UP) is an important step towards ensuring the return of children to school, a huge step in building their future.

To drive the project, which is mainly to track, reintegrate and retain out-of-school children, the governor released a bus and a Hilux vehicle and inaugurated student marshals across the 23 LGAs in the state to support the project. At least 500 children also received basic school kits provided by partners, including Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), UNICEF, Universal Learning Solutions, and Fidelity Bank.

The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba noted that there has been a 41% increase in school enrollment in Benue State following extensive utilisation of grants under the SBMC-SIP.

She commended the state Governor  and the Benue State  Chairman  of SUBEB  for.efforts made to achieve  this and more to come.

– Tikyaa, is  PSA Strategic Communications to the Governor of  Benue  State