Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has approved the release of N1.5 billion for the
state’s 2019 counterpart fund to the Universal Basic Education Commission
(UBEC).
Mr Suleiman Abdullahi, the Executive Chairman of Kogi State Universal Basic
Education Board (SUBEB), made this known during an interaction with
journalists in his office on Wednesday in Lokoja.
Abdullahi said that the governor had provided counterpart funds for 2015 to
2018 at a stretch in addition to the recent approval for the release of N1.5
billion for 2019, saying the fund was already in the board’s coffers.
He noted that the gesture had made the basic education sub-sector in the state
to perform efficiently with almost every community feeling the impact of the
governor’s goodwill.
According to Abdullahi, 702 schools have been rehabilitated so far with
additional 304 new blocks of two classrooms constructed with distribution of
48,350 customised desks to the newly constructed classroom blocks.
He said that tools, laboratory equipment, exercise books and other
instructional materials were ready for onward distribution to various schools
across the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Abdullahi said the governor had transformed the basic education sub-sector
since assumption of office, with the prompt provision of counterpart funds
and proper implementation of all projects across the state.
He commended the governor for his passionate commitment to delivering on
his New Direction Blueprint mandate for education which culminated in the
construction, restructuring, rehabilitation and renovation of schools across
the state.
Abdullahi said the board in its quest to improve on qualitative service delivery,
trained 53 head teachers and principals, 125 desk officers from the School
Basic Management Committee, 42 education secretaries and desk officers.
He said the board also trained 100 teachers in Genophonics and over 100
teachers in science and mathematics while it had gotten approval to train 400
extra teachers.
