The Governor of Gombe State Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has inaugurated a taskforce on the Revitalisation of Basic Education, mandated to develop practical and transformative strategies to strengthen foundational learning across the state.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Governor Yahaya charged members of the taskforce to propose actionable measures to improve basic education outcomes, address shortages of qualified teachers and tackle weak administrative structures, among other critical challenges.
The Governor recalled that upon assuming office in 2019, his administration declared a state of emergency in the education sector due to years of decay, poor planning and structural deficiencies.
He noted that despite the significant progress recorded since then, the state must strive further to achieve excellence.
Key Achievements
Governor Inuwa Yahaya highlighted some of the key achievements in the sector, including the dramatic improvement in WAEC performance from 22 per cent to over 70 per cent within six and a half years, describing this as evidence of his administration’s commitment to quality education.
He reaffirmed his determination to ensure that students in Gombe continue to excel in both NECO and WAEC examinations.
On efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children, the Governor explained that through the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme, supported by development partners, the state had successfully enrolled over 450,000 children into various schools.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by migration patterns, particularly with Gombe bearing the brunt at the centre of the North-East, but assured that the government would continue to provide the necessary support to ensure these children remain in school until completion.
Describing members of the taskforce as seasoned administrators and accomplished educationists, Governor Inuwa Yahaya emphasised that their appointment was based strictly on technical competence and professional merit, rather than political considerations.
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He encouraged the committee to adopt innovative approaches and co-opt additional expertise where necessary to enrich their work and deliver a roadmap that will reposition basic education in the state.
He also warned against any bureaucratic bottlenecks that might hinder the taskforce progress.
The Governor reiterated that his administration places the highest priority on basic education, healthcare, security and agriculture, noting that these sectors form the foundation of sustainable human development.
He disclosed that the state government had recently launched the disbursement of over ₦13.5 billion under AGILE to improve the learning environment for girls; ₦1.5 billion for student scholarships; and a further ₦700 million as incentives to keep girls in school.
Revitalisation Blueprint
Responding on behalf of the taskforce, the Chairperson and Commissioner for Education, Professor Aishatu Maigari, assured the Governor that the committee would justify the confidence reposed in it by producing a revitalisation blueprint that could serve as a model for other states.
She commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s courage and vision, stating, “It takes courage for a leader to devote six years of exemplary effort to education and still say, ‘Tell me what more I need to do.’”
Professor Maigari revealed that Gombe was the first state to pay its UBEC counterpart funding for 2025, adding that the Minister of Education had recently commended the Governor for his steadfast commitment to educational development.
“We assure you, Your Excellency, that 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.”
The taskforce is chaired by the Commissioner for Education, Professor Aishatu Maigari, with Dr Hamid Bobboyi, Mr Mataimaki Tom Maiyashi; Engr Dr Muhammad Nuru Yakubu, OON; and Dr Sadiq Abubakar Gombe as members.
The Executive Chairman of the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Esrom Toro Jokthan, serves as Secretary, while the Permanent Secretary, Special Services and Political, serves as Assistant Secretary.
Lateefah Ibrahim