Benue State Universal Basic Education Board SUBEB is to benefit from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of its Effective School Programme (ESP) support, a grant aided Project that would focus on St. Theresa’s Primary School, Makurdi, one of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Effective School Programme (ESP) Centres in the State.
Speaking while welcoming the Basic Advisor of JICA, Dr. Kusakabe Hikaru and his team to the Board’s Headquarters, the Executive Chairman of Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Grace Adagba, expressed appreciation to JICA for selecting Benue as a beneficiary of its Effective School Programme (ESP).
The Chairman emphasized the Board’s commitment to improving infrastructure in education and requested that the Teachers and Learners Training Centre designed by the Board be captured in the agency’s action plan for the implementation of the ESP projects in the State. She added that the training and learning Centre is a two-storey facility designed to house a digital training hub, teacher accommodation, and conference facilities.
“We have already designed a Teachers and Learners Training Centre that incorporates a computer hub for digital training. It has accommodation for teachers as well. The essence of the Centre is to enable us to have all our digitally inclined training there; we hope for funding of the Project,” she stated.
Dr. Adagba assured the JICA team of the State Government’s commitment towards supporting the project, stressing Governor Hyacinth Alia’s dedication to basic education development in the State.
Dr Kusakabe Hikaru commended the serene environment of the Board’s headquarters as he reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to supporting education in Benue. He stated that the grant aided Project would focus on St. Theresa’s Primary School, Makurdi—one of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Effective School Programme (ESP) Centres in the State.
“We are in the State to conduct a data collection survey preparatory for the implementation of a grant aided project at St. Theresa’s Primary School, Makurdi. The project is designed to support the construction of effective and sustainable schools in Benue State, enhancing the quality of basic education,” he explained.
The JICA’s Basic Education Advisor noted that JICA had previously supported Benue SUBEB in capacity building for teachers through the’ Strengthening Mathematics And Science Education’ (SMASE) Programme. He also revealed that Benue is among the priority states for JICA’s interventions, alongside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State.
“We are finding a way to convince the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan for the implementation of this project we’ve granted. Our focus states are FCT UBEB, Nasarawa SUBEB, and Benue SUBEB,” he added
The JICA delegation later visited St. Theresa’s Primary School, Makurdi, where they conducted a survey of the school and observed pupils being taught using iPads in classrooms. The team expressed satisfaction with the integration of digital learning tools into the school’s curriculum.
Highlights of the visit include: Presentation of the SUBEB Teachers and Learners Training Centre design to JICA; tour of the SUBEB Digital Resource Centre (DRC); tour of St. Theresa’s Primary School Makurdi and the dressing of the JICA team in Benue traditional attire.
