07/08/2026
BENUE SUBEB, UNICEF, UBEC STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP, UNVEIL PROJECT BRACE-UP PLAN, DISTRIBUTE SCHOOL-IN-A-BOX KITS AND SPORTING EQUIPMENT TO SCHOOLS
Makurdi - August 6, 2026
The Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), with support from UNICEF and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has reinforced its commitment to expanding access to quality basic education with the unveiling of the Project BRACE-UP Implementation Plan and the flag-off of the distribution of School-in-a-Box Kits and sporting equipment. The landmark intervention, held on Thursday at the SUBEB Headquarters in Makurdi, Benue State.
Performing the official flag-off on behalf of Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode (MNI), described education as the greatest investment any government can make. He unveiled the Project BRACE-UP Implementation Plan (July 2026–June 2028), describing it as a strategic framework for addressing barriers to school enrolment and retention through teacher capacity development, community engagement, advocacy, improved school infrastructure and expanded learning opportunities. He also flagged off the distribution of 400 UNICEF-supported School-in-a-Box Kits, expected to benefit 16,000 learners, alongside sporting equipment for public schools across the state's three senatorial zones.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Chairman of Benue SUBEB, Dr. Grace Adagba, said the interventions reflect Governor Alia's relentless commitment to transforming basic education through strategic partnerships and sustained investment. She disclosed that 124 schools would receive sporting equipment for football, volleyball, handball, badminton, table tennis, athletics, chess and Ayo. On the implementation plan, she noted UNICEF had sponsored its production, and that it covers eight thematic areas targeting the eradicaion of Out-Of-School children in Benue State.
In her goodwill message, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Enugu Zone, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, said the 400 School-in-a-Box Kits were donated with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to improve learning opportunities for vulnerable children, adding that UNICEF would also provide 303 additional NLP tablets for trained teachers.
The Honourable Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Margaret Ijaguwa Adamu, Chairman of the Benue State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon. Elias Audu, and the UBEC State Coordinator, Mr. Idzi Baba Emmanuel, in separate messages, commended Governor Hyacinth Alia's sustained investment in education and praised the strong collaboration among SUBEB, UNICEF and UBEC in advancing quality basic education across Benue State.
Msughter John Ataigbough
SA, Corporate Communications and Community Engagements
