Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has inaugurated a Taskforce on the Revitalization of Basic Education, with a mandate to develop practical and transformative strategies to strengthen foundational learning across the state.
Speaking during the inauguration at the Government House, Governor Yahaya tasked the members to propose actionable measures to improve basic education performance, address shortages of qualified teachers, and tackle weak administrative structures.
He recalled that upon assuming office in 2019, his administration declared a state of emergency in the education sector due to years of neglect, poor planning, and structural decay. He noted that despite significant progress, more work is needed to achieve educational excellence.
The Governor highlighted key achievements, including the improvement of WAEC performance from 22 percent to over 70 percent in six and a half years — a development he described as proof of the administration’s commitment to quality education. He reaffirmed efforts to ensure students in Gombe continue to excel in both NECO and WAEC examinations.
Read Also:
Gombe Beneficiaries Hail Inuwa Yahaya’s Drive for Girl-Child Education
On reducing the number of out-of-school children, Governor Yahaya stated that over 450,000 children were enrolled through the BESDA programme and support from development partners. He acknowledged migration challenges, especially with Gombe positioned at the center of the North-East, but assured sustained government support to keep children in school.
He described the taskforce members as seasoned administrators and respected educationists, appointed based on professionalism and technical expertise rather than political affiliation. He urged them to embrace innovation, avoid bureaucratic delays, and produce a workable roadmap for basic education reform.
Governor Yahaya reaffirmed that basic education, health, security, and agriculture remain the priority pillars of his administration. He also noted recent government investments, including ₦13.5 billion under AGILE for girl-child education, ₦1.5 billion for student scholarships, and ₦700 million in incentives to keep girls in school.
Responding, Chairperson of the Taskforce and Commissioner for Education, Professor Aishatu Maigari, pledged that the committee would produce a revitalization blueprint that could serve as a model nationwide.
She praised the Governor’s dedication, saying:
“It takes courage for a leader to invest six years in education and still say, ‘Tell me what more I need to do.’”
Professor Maigari added that Gombe was the first state to pay its UBEC counterpart funding for 2025 and that the Minister of Education recently acknowledged Governor Yahaya’s leadership in the sector.
Other members of the taskforce include Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, OON; Mr. Mataimaki Tom Maiyashi; Engr. Dr. Muhammad Nuru Yakubu, OON; and Dr. Sadiq Abubakar Gombe.
Professor Esrom Toro Jokthan, Executive Chairman of SUBEB, will serve as Secretary, while the Permanent Secretary, Special Services and Political Affairs, will serve as Assistant Secretary.