A Partnership For Better Outcomes In Benue Education Sector

The Benue State Government, on January 18, 2026, officially flagged off the distribution of teaching and learning materials to basic schools across the state. This is part of the government’s consistent efforts to improve the quality of education and make education accessible and affordable.

The materials roll into Benue through a partnership that has endured. A partnership with the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, which has been galvanising the education sector, addressing teaching and learning challenges, and preparing pupils and teachers for a more competitive role in the future. This is a partnership that has thrived because Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia has placed education at the top of his governance agenda.

For those familiar with the huge interventions in the education sector since Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia assumed duty, the provision of the teaching and learning materials is, therefore, another bold step towards producing students who are not only knowledgeable, but also competitive in the national and global stage.

As the state deputy governor, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, said during the distribution of the materials donated by the UBEC, “education remains the bedrock of any meaningful development, and basic education, in particular, is the foundation upon which all other levels of education are built. The provision of adequate and relevant teaching and learning materials is non-negotiable if we are to achieve quality learning outcomes and equip our children with the skills required for the future.” This is the core of the administration’s policy, which has elicited bold and decisive inputs to make schools better, teachers more committed, and students highly enthusiastic to attend school and learn.

It is imperative to note that the interventions have supported and improved classroom engagement and digital learning, and the donated resources, which are comprehensive and learner-centered designed to stimulate creativity and support effective teaching, would further expand learning outcomes.

In the words of the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Mohammed Garba, the instructional materials are achieving meaningful learning outcomes because without them, investments in infrastructure and teachers alone can not translate into effective education. This means that proper deployment of the teaching and learning materials will ultimately improve literacy among pupils, and with proper monitoring, real impact will be made.

Dr. Garba praised Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration for its commitment to basic education, including the “recruitment and deployment of 9,700 teachers to basic education schools, the provision of additional 7,000 whiteboards to complement UBEC’s earlier intervention, and timely payment of the State’s counterpart fund for the UBEC Matching Grant”.

It is on record that Governor Alia’s interventions were not just in basic education but also at the senior secondary and tertiary levels, with a wide range of bold actions taken towards better quality and outcomes.

Apart from the recruitment of the 9,700 qualified teachers to address the shortage of educators and improve the quality of education, the Governor Alia administration has constructed modern classrooms, digital and non-digital libraries, toilets, and boreholes in over 250 public primary schools across the state. ICT centres have also been provided and equipped in primary schools to enhance learning through technology and develop foundational 21st-century skills.

– Bridget Tikyaa  Is The Principal Special Assistant To The Governor On Media Publicity And Communications Strategy