Benue SUBEB partners Japanese agency for infrastructural development in public schools

The Executive Chairman, Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Grace Adagba, alongside the Board and Management Staff, today welcomed the Basic Education Advisor of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr. Kusakabe Hikaru, and his team to the Board’s headquarters.

The JICA delegation was in the state to conduct a data collection survey as part of preparations for the implementation of a Grant Aid Project to Support School Construction. The survey aims to assess infrastructural needs and ensure a smooth execution of the grant project.

Dr. Adagba expressed appreciation to JICA for selecting Benue as a beneficiary of its Effective School Programme (ESP) support. She emphasised the Board’s commitment to improving education infrastructure 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 Effective School Programme projects in the State. The training and learning Centre—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 Benue State Government’s commitment to supporting the project, emphasizing Governor Hyacinth Alia’s dedication to basic education development in the State.

“We don’t joke with our interventions; we use them judiciously,” she assured.

Speaking during the visit, Dr. Kusakabe Hikaru commended the serene environment of the Board’s headquarters and reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to supporting education in Benue. He stated that the Grant Aid 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 aid 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.

JICA’s Basic Education Advisor, Dr. Kusakabe Hikaru, noted that JICA had previously supported Benue SUBEB in capacity building for teachers through the’ Strengthening Mathematics And Science Education’ (SMASE) Programme. He emphasized 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 stated.

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 in the school’s curriculum.

Highlights of the visit included the 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 decoration of the JICA team in Benue traditional attire.

The JICA team comprises Dr. Kusakabe Hikaru Basic Education Advisor, Mr. Konu Kenta Project Formulation Advisor, Stephen Nwanya Programme  Coordinator (Education) and Iberi Agada of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja.