Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has approved and released ₦5.9 billion for basic education reforms aimed at strengthening teaching, infrastructure and curriculum delivery across public primary and junior secondary schools.
Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Anietie Etuk, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Board’s headquarters in Uyo, the state capital.
He said the intervention, covering 2025 and 2026 projects, would adopt a comprehensive approach to school development.
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“Intervention will no longer be piecemeal. When we go to a school, we will handle it holistically: classrooms, water, toilets, electricity, and everything required to make the environment suitable for learning,” he said.
The SUBEB Chairman warned against vandalism and theft of public school facilities, urging communities to protect government investments.
“Government cannot continue to commit huge resources only for facilities to be vandalised. Communities must take responsibility for protecting what is provided for them,” he charged.
New Curriculum
Etuk also announced the planned rollout of a new curriculum for primary schools, describing it as a major step toward improving the quality of teaching and learning.
On manpower development, he revealed that Governor Eno had approved the recruitment of 1,000 teachers to address shortages in public schools, with emphasis on ICT and computer science specialists.
“For many years, this has not happened. With the new curriculum, we will be able to add value to teaching and learning in our schools. We did not have enough teachers in our schools, we appealed to the Governor, and he has graciously approved the recruitment of 1,000 teachers. We are paying attention to ICT teachers because we already have computer labs that require qualified personnel,” he explained.
The SUBEB Chairman further expressed concern over disputes between communities and school authorities over school lands, saying such conflicts were affecting administration and student enrollment.
He called on community leaders and School Management Committees to support efforts geared toward improving learning outcomes in the state.
“If the foundation is not strong, nothing can function properly. That is why we must continue to invest in basic education,” he said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Mr. Nsibiet John, commended the state government for prioritising education through teacher recruitment and infrastructure support.
“The employment of over 1,000 teachers is a major step forward, especially for schools in rural communities, and will go a long way in strengthening basic education delivery,” he said.
The NUJ Chairman urged the board to strengthen Parent-Teacher Associations and extend intervention projects to schools facing infrastructure challenges across the state.
The reforms are in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places strong emphasis on human capital development, improved access to quality education, digital learning and strengthened foundational education as critical drivers of national growth and socio-economic transformation.
