The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) together with the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) on Monday marked the distribution of sports facilities and items for Universal Basic Education (UBE) schools, using the matching grant 2020 /2021 at the Board meeting. Headquarters in Makurdi.
Some of the sports equipment distributed
Speaking at the ceremony, SUBEB CEO Comrade Joseph Utse said that sports development in primary school is vital to harnessing the talents of pupils.
Comrade Utse also charged all Education Secretaries to ensure that the equipment reaches the selected schools and is also used judiciously for the purpose it is intended to serve. She advised the beneficiary schools on the proper use of the items.
Also speaking on the occasion, UBEC State Coordinator Mr Emmanuel Baba said the commission has recognized the importance of sports in developing extracurricular skills in students and as such tasked SUBEB to ensure that this gesture is maintained.
SUBEB Director of Academic Services, Mr. Michael Mtomga, said that UBEC allocates 1% of the matching grant annually for the acquisition of sports equipment for schools, adding that a total of 68 basic schools will benefit from this intervention.
From left to right: Benue Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Comrade Joseph Utse, Director of Academic Services of SUBEB, Mr. Michael Mtomga, State Coordinator of UBEC, Mr. Emmanuel Baba, and Director of Quality Assurance of SUBEB, Br. Augustine Akula , jointly presenting the sports equipment during the occasion.
The Permanent Member 3 SUBEB, Mr. James Ahua in his words said that the distribution is a continuous exercise that will ensure that all schools are equipped subsequently.
Responding on behalf of the Education Secretaries, Mr Johnathan Chagba of Katsina/ala praised the State Government’s determination to revive sports in primary schools and pledged to take proper care of the items.
According to SUBEB Information Officer and Chief of Protocol, Ms. Erdoo Sar, the distributed items include soccer balls, soccer boots, goal posts, nets, Scrabble, jump ropes, chess set, relay Barton, to mention a few.
