Benue SUBEB Chairman receives donor agencies' liaison officer over GPE implementation

Benue SUBEB Chairman receives donor agencies' liaison officer over GPE implementation

By Johnson Arua

The Executive Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Grace Adagba, on Monday hosted the Liaison Officer of Donor Agencies and his team at the Board’s headquarters in Makurdi for a strategic review of the ongoing Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Programme in the state.

The visit, initiated following a formal request from Save the Children International (SCI), focused on progress updates, sustainability strategies, and preparations ahead of a national review session in Abuja.

Presenting key updates, the Liaison Officer outlined notable achievements recorded across GPE-supported schools, citing improvements in learning conditions and collaborative efforts to boost basic education delivery statewide.

He said the programme’s current phase had strengthened teaching support in targeted areas, while also expanding access for vulnerable children through the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP).

A major highlight of the engagement was the proposed integration of GPE-supported volunteer teachers into the state’s formal government payroll, a move stakeholders believe will ensure continuity and stability.

“We are committed to sustaining the quality of learning that the GPE programme has introduced, and integrating these teachers is central to that,” the Liaison Officer emphasized.

Stakeholders also reviewed the progress and challenges of transitioning ALP participants—many of whom are returning to school after prolonged absence—into mainstream education.

Attention shifted to the upcoming National Program Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting slated for Abuja later this month, where Benue State will present its experiences, contributions, and emerging lessons to donor partners and policymakers.

In her remarks, Dr. Adagba commended Save the Children International, GPE, and development partners including UNHCR for what she described as their “continued support toward improving access to inclusive and quality education for children in Benue State.”

She reaffirmed SUBEB’s dedication to maintaining collaborative initiatives that reinforce education delivery across the state.

“Benue State remains committed to fostering strategic partnerships that will enhance teacher welfare, improve learning outcomes, and elevate education standards across our schools,” Dr. Adagba stated.

She added that the collaboration with Save the Children will “drastically cut down the number of out-of-school children in the state.”

The strategic engagement marks another step toward strengthening education resilience and ensuring meaningful inclusion for every child.