The Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to revamp public schools across the state.
He emphasised that his vision is to provide quality education that nurtures and empowers young, underprivileged children to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Governor Mutfwang made this declaration during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Hajiya Aisha Garba at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He stressed that unless public schools across the country are adequately equipped with critical infrastructure, trained personnel, and sufficient instructional materials, the future of education remains uncertain.
Commenting on measures his administration has taken to curb the rising number of out-of-school children in Plateau State, Governor Mutfwang stated that deliberate and strategic interventions are being implemented to promote enrollment and retention in public schools by creating conducive teaching and learning environments.
“For us, basic education is absolutely critical. Without a strong foundation, any structure built on it will eventually collapse. I firmly believe that unless we fix public education, we are only deceiving ourselves. While a few of us may afford private schools for our children, the overwhelming majority of Nigerian children depend solely on public education,” he stated.
“It has therefore become an urgent responsibility for those of us in leadership to improve the system for the benefit of the greater majority. We are already grappling with a growing number of out-of-school children, including challenges from the Almajiri system. Strengthening basic education is fundamental to reversing this trend.”
The Governor described UBEC as a key national institution that deserves focused support and collaboration to bridge the education gap in the country.
He disclosed that his administration is aggressively addressing issues around the quality of teaching personnel, infrastructure deficit, and the availability of learning materials to enhance the cognitive development of schoolchildren.
“We are also paying attention to child nutrition, in order to ensure that pupils receive the appropriate diet to support learning and development. After all, the next governor of Plateau State could very well emerge from a public school. We must, therefore, give the sector the attention it deserves, and we are doing our part to make a meaningful impact,” Governor Mutfwang said.
The Governor also commended the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, for her passion and dedication to improving basic education in Nigeria. He recalled knowing her from years past as a committed public servant with a clear drive to leave a lasting legacy in the education sector.
In her response, the Executive Secretary, Hajiya Aisha Garba, expressed deep appreciation for the Governor’s visit and praised his proactive approach to improving public education.
She described Governor Mutfwang as a reliable and visionary partner, noting that UBEC looks forward to strengthening collaboration with Plateau State to build a more resilient basic education system.
Garba also commended the Governor for the timely release of counterpart funding, which has significantly contributed to ongoing improvements in infrastructure and the general learning atmosphere in public schools across the state.
She called on State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) nationwide to align their goals with UBEC’s mission to advance public education in Nigeria.
