The Executive Chairman of Kogi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Comrade Suleiman Abdullahi has said the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has transformed the basic education sub-sector since assumption of office.
Comrade Abdullahi made this known during an interactive session with members of executive of the Yahaya Bello Media Centre (YBMC) in his office on Thursday, in Lokoja.
He particularly praised the Governor for the prompt provision of counterpart funds and proper implementation of all projects across the state in accordance with international best practices.
The board’s head said the governor has demonstrated his commitment with passionate delivery on his New Direction Blueprint for education which has culminated in the construction, restructuring, rehabilitation and renovation of schools across the state.
He said governor Yahaya Bello is the only governor in the history of the state that has promptly released counterpart funds for four years in a row, a feat that has helped board to carry out its projects which have changed the face of the sector in the state for the better.
“Governor Bello provided counterpart funds for 2015 to 2018 at a go. This is in addition to the recent approval for the release of ₦1.5 billion for 2019. The fund is already in our coffers. This has made the basic education sub-sector to perform efficiently with almost every community feeling the impact of Governor Bello’s gesture. In the whole of the North Central, Kogi state is ahead in this regard,” he said.
According to him, 702 schools have been rehabilitated so far with additional 304 new blocks of two classrooms constructed with 48,350 customized desks distributed within the newly constructed classroom blocks.
He noted that working tools, laboratory equipments, Exercise Books and other instructional materials were ready for onward distribution to various schools across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
Comrade Abdullahi further noted that the Board in its quest to improve on qualitative service delivery has trained 53 Head Teachers and Principals, 125 Desk Officers from the School Basic Management Committee, 42 Education Secretaries and Desk Officers, 100 teachers genophonics and over a hundred teachers were also trained in science and mathematics.
He said the board has also gotten a recent approval to train 400 teachers more.
Comrade Abdullahi said the Need Assessment of the Board was well spread and that the pace at which Governor Bello is going in the sub-sector, every community would feel the impact of the projects before the expiration of his second term in office.
