Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has inaugurated a Taskforce on the Revitalization of Basic Education with a mandate to develop practical strategies aimed at strengthening foundational learning and improving education outcomes across the state.
Speaking at the inauguration held at the Government House, Gombe, the governor said the initiative was part of his administration’s ongoing efforts to address persistent gaps in basic education, including shortages of qualified teachers, weak administrative structures, and declining foundational skills.
Yahaya recalled that upon assuming office in 2019, his administration declared a state of emergency in the education sector following years of decay and structural inadequacies. He noted that although significant progress had been achieved since then, more work was needed to attain excellence.
According to him, the state’s NECO performance improved from 22 per cent to 70 per cent within six and a half years, reflecting renewed investment in quality education. He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that Gombe students continue to excel in national examinations such as NECO and WAEC.
The governor also highlighted efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children, stating that more than 450,000 children had been enrolled in schools through the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme, supported by development partners. He noted that migration patterns in the North-East had continued to pose challenges, but assured that government would sustain its interventions to keep children in school.
Yahaya emphasised that the newly inaugurated taskforce, comprising seasoned administrators and education experts, was appointed based on technical competence rather than political considerations. He urged the committee to deploy innovative approaches, co-opt expertise where needed, and avoid bureaucratic delays that could hinder its work.
The governor further reiterated the administration’s prioritisation of basic education, healthcare, security, and agriculture as pillars of sustainable development. He disclosed recent interventions, including the disbursement of more than ₦13.5 billion under the AGILE programme to improve girl-child learning environments, ₦1.5 billion in scholarships, and over ₦700 million in incentives to keep girls in school.
Responding on behalf of the taskforce, the Chairperson and Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Maigari, assured the governor of the committee’s readiness to deliver a comprehensive revitalisation blueprint that could serve as a model for other states.
She commended Yahaya’s commitment to educational reforms, noting that Gombe was the first state to pay its UBEC counterpart funding for 2025. She said the Minister of Education had recently praised the governor’s dedication to the sector.
Prof. Maigari pledged that the taskforce would thoroughly evaluate challenges, identify sector needs, and recommend solutions that are specific, realistic, scalable and time-bound.
Members of the taskforce include Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, OON; Mr. Mataimaki Tom Maiyashi; Engr. Dr. Muhammad Nuru Yakubu, OON; and Dr. Sadiq Abubakar Gombe. The Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Prof. Esrom Toro Jokthan, will serve as Secretary, while the Permanent Secretary, Special Services and Political, serves as Assistant Secretary.
