By Peter Duru, Makurdi 

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has commenced moves to bring long-awaited relief to the Nyifon people of Buruku Local Government Area, LGA, of the state where children have for years risked their lives crossing a dangerous river by canoe daily to attend school. 

The fresh hope followed weekend’s visit by the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB), Dr. Terna Francis, who toured Nyifon and Etulo communities to assess their education challenges and propose lasting solutions. 

During an interactive session with community leaders, Dr. Francis received an appeal by leaders of the community for the upgrade of the only existing Basic 1-6 school in the area to Basic 9. 

The leaders said the upgrade would allow children to complete basic education within the community and sit for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) without embarking on the hazardous daily river crossing. 

They also called for the establishment of a Special Science and Technical College in the area to serve the senior secondary needs of Mbaikyondo/Nyifon, Atiikya and Ibinef Council Wards, all of which currently lacked a government secondary school. 

Dr. Francis, who acknowledged the dire situation, commended Governor Alia for initiating steps to address the long-standing hardship faced by the communities. 

He inspected available land in both Nyifon and Etulo, assuring the people that he would fast-track the process for the proposed Basic 9 upgrade and the establishment of the Science and Technical College ahead of the next academic year. 

At Adi, the BEQAEB Executive Secretary also announced plans to work with the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, to enhance infrastructure at RCM Primary School. 

He encouraged the school to upgrade to Basic 9 to enable it obtain Centre Recognition Certificate status, which would allow its pupils to write the BECE locally. 

Reiterating that Benue State operates the 9-3-4 education structure, and that the BECE now serves as the First School Leaving Certificate, Dr. Francis stressed that no child should have to risk crossing dangerous waters to access education. 

He urged the communities to support government interventions by safeguarding school facilities and ensuring cooperation with teachers deployed by SUBEB. 

The Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Public Order, Ese Thomas, who is an indigene of Adi, thanked Governor Alia for prioritizing education in rural communities. Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Marine and Blue Economy, Paul Bebe, and the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, on Judiciary, Raphael Akume, praised the Governor for extending development to minority and previously neglected areas. 

Community leaders, including Uwhe Nyifon, Eka Chia Jacob, President-General Nyifon, Ugbu Michael, and Ogbani Zaki Oga Emmanuel of Adi, expressed gratitude to the Governor. They described the intervention as a historic step toward ending decades of deprivation and the daily risks faced by their children. 

They assured the government of the community’s full cooperation to ensure that the projects were delivered.