Emir Of Lafia Heads Nasarawa Compulsory Basic Education Taskforce

The Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I (rtd) is to chair the taskforce set up by the Nasarawa State government to ensure full implementation of the compulsory basic education for all school-age children across the state.

The executive chairman, Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board(NSUBEB), Dr Kassim Kassim disclosed this during the flag off of the distribution of 99,776 Mathematics, English and History textbooks to 1,652 primary and nursery schools, including Special schools in the state on Friday in Lafia.

The executive chairman said the mandate of the steering committee also includes halting the out of school syndrome, ensuring maintenance of school facilities and ending vandalism among others.

According to the NSUBEB chairman, the taskforce tagged, “Operation save the future of our children” will be co-chaired by him.

He said, the chairman council of Traditional leaders in every local government, co-chaired by the local government chairmen, as well as all serving councillors and supervisory councillors will be members, with education secretaries serving as secretary.

He explained that the constitution of the taskforce was part of the resolutions adopted during the basic education summit in December 2025.

Dr Kassim said the procurement of 99,776 textbooks distributed to 1,652 primary and nursery schools, as well as special schools, was the joint effort of UBEC and NSUBEB.

He said other items distributed include 27 Smartphones, tablets, and twenty smart interactive board televisions to effective schools in LGEA Central Pilot Science Primary School, Dunama Lafia, LGEA Primary School, Islamic Nasarawa Eggon and LGEA Primary School, Kofar Kudu, Nasarawa.

On the occasion, Governor Abdullahi Sule commended the NSUBEB chairman for the various innovations and reforms aimed at entrenching a solid foundation for the state’s educational system, even as he promised to provide necessary support, including counterpart funding, to enable the board to achieve its lofty mandate.

The governor also appreciated the executive secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, for her innovations that have changed the face of basic education in Nigeria, and the support of the UBEC board chairman, Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura, to complement the effort of the Nasarawa SUBEB chairman.