Benue SUBEB, Partners Take Greening Advocacy to Grassroots, Distribute Kits to Out-of-School Children

The Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Benue Links Nigeria Limited and Makurdi Local Government Council, has taken its advocacy for greener schools and communities to the grassroots across the three senatorial zones of the state.
The campaign, held on September 24, 2026, also featured the distribution of school kits to out-of-school children identified for enrolment under Project BRACE-UP.
The advocacy programme was held at RCM Pilot Primary School, Tordonga, Katsina-Ala, for Zone A; the Ter Makurdi’s Office, Makurdi, for Zone B; and RCM Primary School, Engila, Agatu, for Zone C.
The campaign brought together traditional rulers, local government officials, education stakeholders, parents, religious leaders, opinion leaders, School-Based Management Committees and other community representatives to promote grassroots ownership of environmental protection.
Speaking on the greening initiative, the Director-General, Benue State Council on Climate Change, Dr Daniel Mailumo, represented by Dr Steve Ahile, explained the realities and effects of climate change and emphasised the need for deliberate action to protect the environment.
He urged schools and communities to embrace tree planting and other practices capable of mitigating the effects of climate change.
On efforts to improve access to basic education, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Benue SUBEB, Comr. Patricia Gbuuga, highlighted the implementation of Project BRACE-UP, an initiative designed to identify, enrol and support children who are currently out of school.
She disclosed that 500 out-of-school children had so far been enrolled through the initiative and provided with learning materials.
The Executive Chairman of Benue SUBEB, Dr Grace Adagba, in her keynote address, linked the greening campaign to the broader vision of the state Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, stressing that schools and communities must remain central to efforts to address climate change.
According to her, when environmental consciousness is instilled in children and reinforced within their communities, schools become powerful platforms for creating lasting behavioural change.
Dr Adagba recalled other greening interventions by Benue SUBEB, including the Tree Planting Campaign, under which 80 trees were planted in 40 schools; the establishment of Greening Clubs in 20 schools; and the training of 80 teachers from 40 schools across the three senatorial districts on greening schools and climate change education.
The General Manager of Benue Links, Comr. Alexander Fanafa, and the Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Council, Hon. Joseph Keffi, also spoke at the events in Zones A and B, respectively.
They expressed support for the campaign and commended Governor Alia’s efforts in the education sector.
A major component of the campaign across the three zones was the provision of 100 school kits in each zone for out-of-school children identified for enrolment under Project BRACE-UP.
The programme also featured the symbolic planting of trees as part of efforts to promote environmental sustainability in schools and communities.
Notable speakers and participants at the events included Mue-Ter Masev, Chief Clement Kurugh, Mue-Ter Ipusu, Chief Bernard Ayolave, the District Head of Agatu, Chief Jibrin Abubakar, the Chief Imam of Agatu, Ochepo Mohammed, the Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Terwase Ugbede, as well as other religious leaders and education stakeholders.
The campaign underscored the importance of collective action in promoting environmental protection and expanding access to basic education across Benue State.