The Executive Chairman, Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Grace Adagba, has received an advance team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) ahead of a survey mission for grant aid in Education to finalise preparations for the construction of a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) facility in the state.

The visit according to a statement by the Benue SUBEB information officer, Emmanuella Akese, marks a crucial step in preparations for JICA’s grant aid support under its Effective School Programme (ESP), which aims to establish a model science facility at the basic education level in Benue State.

While welcoming the delegation, Dr. Adagba expressed appreciation to JICA for selecting Benue as a beneficiary of the ESP, describing the gesture as a transformative opportunity for young learners in the state.

“We are grateful for this support, and we are confident that the establishment of a STEM model school will help nurture the talents of our learners and inspire many of them to pursue careers in science and technology,” she stated.

The chairman also assured the team of the full support and commitment of the state governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, in ensuring the success of the project. 

She noted that Governor Alia had consistently demonstrated unwavering dedication to the development of basic education in the state.

Speaking during the visit, Dr. Kusakabe Hikaru, JICA’s Basic Education Advisor working with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), explained that the purpose of the visit was to ensure that all necessary preparations and data-gathering processes are completed ahead of the official survey mission from JICA Headquarters, Tokyo.

The JICA Headquarters mission is expected in Benue State in September 2025 to conduct further evaluations as part of the grant approval process.

Also speaking, Mr. Stephen Nwanya, Programme Coordinator for Education at JICA, emphasized that the team’s visit is to finalise infrastructure design plans for the proposed Model Science School, which will cater to both Primary and Junior Secondary School Learners.

“We are truly impressed by the commitment and progress we have seen here in Benue. The efforts of the Executive Chairman are commendable and reflect the sustainability potential of the project,” Mr. Nwanya said. He added that JICA remains committed to supporting the Board and meeting some of its key demands for the successful implementation of the initiative.

Earlier on the visit, the JICA team visited St Theresa ‘s Primary and UBE JSS Makurdi, one of the Effective School Programme (ESP) Schools in the State, to conduct a preliminary survey and gather data relevant to the upcoming intervention.

The visit is one in a series of high-level engagements between JICA, UBEC, and Benue SUBEB, as the state moves closer to becoming a model for science-based basic education in Nigeria.