Alia ends decades of suffering, neglect as Nyifon children set to attend school without crossing deadly river

By Benedicta Aboh

Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia of Benue state is poised to end the decades-long ordeal of the Nyifon people, whose children have endured daily risks crossing a river by boat just to attend school.

Hope surged across Nyifon and Etulo communities in Buruku Local Government Area, LGA,  following the visit of the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB), Dr. Terna Francis, who went to assess education needs of the people and initiate lasting solutions.

During an interactive meeting with community leaders, Dr. Francis received a passionate appeal for the upgrade of the only Basic 1-6 school in the area to Basic 9. The upgrade would allow children to complete their basic education within the community and sit for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) without the life-threatening river crossing.

The communities also requested the establishment of a Special Science and Technical College to cater to the senior secondary needs of Mbaikyondo/Nyifon, Atiikya, and Ibinef Council Wards, areas currently without any government-owned secondary school.

Deeply moved by the plight of the people, Dr. Francis commended Governor Alia for initiating efforts to end the suffering of the riverine communities. He inspected available land in both Nyifon and Etulo and assured the leaders that the process to secure approval for the Basic 9 upgrade and the new Science and Technical College would be fast-tracked ahead of the next academic year.

At Adi, he disclosed plans to collaborate with Benue SUBEB to improve infrastructure at RCM Primary School and encouraged the school to upgrade to Basic 9 so it can attain Centre Recognition Certificate status for BECE.

Reaffirming that Benue continues to operate the 9-3-4 education structure, with the BECE now serving as the First School Leaving Certificate, Dr. Francis stressed that no child should be forced to risk their life to access learning.

The BEQAEB boss appealed to the communities to safeguard school infrastructure and support teachers deployed by SUBEB to ensure the success of the forthcoming upgrades.

Prominent stakeholders, including the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Public Order, Ese Thomas; SSA to the Governor on Marine and Blue Economy, Paul Ugbu Bebe; and SSA on Judiciary, Raphael Akume, all applauded Governor Alia’s commitment to extending development to rural and minority communities.

Community leaders such as Uwhe Nyifon Eka Chia Jacob, President-General Nyifon Ugbu Michael, and Ogbani Zaki Oga Emmanuel of Adi expressed deep gratitude, describing the intervention as a historic turning point that would finally end years of deprivation and the daily dangers their children face.

They pledged full community support to ensure the successful delivery of the projects, calling the Governor’s actions a landmark step toward equitable education for all Benue children.