Alia announced the appointment in a statement released on Tuesday signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Francis, before his appointment, was the Director General of the Bureau for Education Quality Assurance.

According to the statement, the appointment takes immediate effect.

The statement stated that the establishment of the board was in line with the law recently passed by the Benue State House of Assembly that merged the former Bureau for Education Quality Assurance and the defunct Benue State Examinations Board into one.

“This strategic merger underscores our administration’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the education sector.

“It is also aimed at ensuring that the Benue child receives holistic, high-quality, and competitive education that prepares them to excel anywhere in the world,” he said.

The governor charged Francis to bring his wealth of experience, integrity, and innovation to bear in repositioning the state’s educational assessment and quality assurance framework.

He reiterated that education remained a top priority of his administration.

Alia emphasised that the board must serve as a catalyst for continuous improvement, discipline, and quality standards across all levels of learning in the state.