Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has inaugurated a Taskforce on the Revitalization of Basic Education, with a mandate to develop practical and transformative strategies to strengthen foundational learning across the state.
Governor’s Charge to the Taskforce
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Government House, Governor Yahaya urged members to propose actionable measures that will:
- Improve basic education performance
- Address shortages of qualified teachers
- Tackle weak administrative structures
He emphasized that despite progress since his administration declared a state of emergency in education in 2019, more effort is needed to achieve excellence.
Tangible Achievements in Education
Governor Yahaya highlighted notable progress:
- WAEC performance improved from 22% to over 70% in six and a half years.
- Over 450,000 out-of-school children enrolled through the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme and development partner support.
He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring Gombe students excel in both NECO and WAEC examinations.
Investment in Girl-Child Education
The Governor outlined recent investments:
- ₦13.5 billion (AGILE) disbursed to improve girl-child learning environments.
- ₦1.5 billion allocated for scholarships.
- Over ₦700 million provided as incentives to keep girls in school.
He noted that education, healthcare, security, and agriculture remain the foundation of sustainable human development in the state.
Taskforce Composition
The newly inaugurated taskforce includes:
- Chairperson: Prof. Aishatu Maigari (Commissioner of Education)
- Members: Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, Mr. Mataimaki Tom Maiyashi, Engr. Dr. Muhammad Nuru Yakubu, Dr. Sadiq Abubakar Gombe
- Secretary: Prof. Esrom Toro Jokthan (Executive Chairman, SUBEB)
- Assistant Secretary: Permanent Secretary, Special Services and Political
Taskforce Commitment
Responding on behalf of the committee, Prof. Aishatu Maigari assured the Governor that the taskforce will deliver a revitalization blueprint that could serve as a model for other states.
She commended the Governor’s vision, noting that Gombe was the first state to pay UBEC counterpart funding for 2025, earning commendation from the Minister of Education.
“We will diagnose the problems and challenges, assess the needs of the sector, and proffer tailor-made solutions that are scalable, achievable, specific, realistic, time-bound, and transparent,” Prof. Maigari stated.
Conclusion
The inauguration of the Taskforce on Basic Education Revitalization marks a new phase in Gombe’s education reforms, with a strong focus on foundational learning, teacher quality, and girl-child education.
Governor Yahaya’s administration continues to prioritize education as a cornerstone for sustainable development in the state.
End.
