26/05/2026
ADAMAWA GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION REFORMS AND TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
By Jessica John Bakari
The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Umar Garba Pella, says the Fintiri-led administration has invested heavily in the education sector and remains committed to improving policies that will strengthen the system.
Dr. Umar Garba Pella stated this during a one-day meeting organised by the State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and ADSUBEB, for the public presentation of the revised National Teacher Policy (NTP) and its implementation tools in the state.
The meeting, which took place at the Nurses House, Jimeta, was titled “Youth Empowerment in Nigeria (Second Phase)” and aimed at expanding, integrating and strengthening systems (EISS) to build teachers’ capacity and resilience across the education sector.
Represented by the Director of Administration, Mr. Simnawa Geoffrey, the Commissioner commended UNESCO and the World Bank for organising the event, describing it as timely and beneficial to improving service delivery in the education sector.
He explained that the Fintiri-led administration has continued to invest heavily in education, particularly in manpower development, and reiterated the government’s commitment to policies that will improve learning outcomes and strengthen the sector.
The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development urged participants to contribute meaningfully during discussions and ensure the effective implementation of the revised policy.
Dr. Umar Garba Pella added that the proper implementation of the National Teacher Policy would help transform attitudes towards the teaching profession and promote professionalism in the sector.
In a technical presentation, a Director at the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Uba, represented by the Deputy Director of Colleges of Education, Godwin Egbomefu, highlighted the importance of the revised policy in improving teacher recruitment, welfare and remuneration.
He explained that the policy would serve as a guide for promoting professionalism and sanity in both federal and state education systems, while also improving school leadership, classroom practice, gender equity, dignity and resilience within the teaching profession.
Egbomefu further urged relevant agencies, including Ministries of Education, Colleges of Education, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), and the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), to ensure strict compliance with the revised policy during teacher recruitment. He stressed that only qualified and certified candidates, particularly holders of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) from recognised institutions, should be employed to curb quackery in the profession.
Giving the objectives of the meeting, the Programme Assistant of UNESCO, Hyelataina Bernard, emphasised the need for states to adopt the revised National Teacher Policy as a strategic guide for strengthening the teaching profession.
According to Bernard, some of the objectives of the policy include strengthening teacher recruitment, employment, retention and career progression, improving teacher quality through standards-based professional development, and promoting teacher motivation, welfare and professional recognition.
In their goodwill messages, Permanent Member I of ADSUBEB, Adiel Kurda; Executive Secretary of PPSMB, Penuel Birsan; Provost of the College of Education, Hong, Professor Baha Yusuf Benson; Abdullahi Yusuf; and the representative of the Provost of the Federal College of Education, Dr. Gambo Ibrahim, unanimously pledged their support for the revised policy and reaffirmed their commitment towards its implementation in the state.
Highlight of the event was the ceremonial signing of the National Teacher Policy Memorandum of Understanding by UNESCO officials and representatives of the Ministry of Education as a framework for implementation in the state’s education sector.
