…..As Benue Students wins 4 awards in Hong Kong.
By Donald Kumun
Benue State, located in the heart of Nigeria, has long been dealing with shortcomings in its education sector. With limited resources and infrastructure, it has been a challenge to provide quality education to the youth in the state. However, all that changed when Governor Alia stepped into office and took charge of transforming the education sector in Benue State.
Gradually and steadily, the Benue state educational sector is taking its pride of place in the comity of other states across the Federation.
Benue State, often referred to as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has witnessed significant strides in its education sector, courtesy of the visionary leadership of the Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia .His tenure within one year in office, has been marked by transformative policies and initiatives that have redefined the education sector in the State. Among these, major efforts include, an unwavering commitment towards ensuring that no stone is left unturned in the course of introducing remarkable policies that will raise the sector out of its hitherto doldrums.
The administration has set an exemplary path of excellence for the students to follow with an assurance that under his watch, the government of Benue State will not lament in this quest neither will it use paucity of funds as an alibi, especially as regards issues of education and development.
The establishment of the Benue Education Quality Assurance (BEQA), extensive scholarship programs, and sponsorships of students to international competitions, revitalization of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), under the supervision of the Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, among others, stand out as landmark achievements.
The Benue State Education Quality Assurance Agency (BEQA), was established with the understanding that the foundation of a robust education system lies in maintaining high standards, even as the Governnor instituted BEQA to oversee and ensure the quality of education across the state. This body is tasked with critical responsibilities of setting benchmarks, monitoring schools, and providing necessary interventions to elevate the standards of education in the State
BEQA conducts regular inspections and assessments of schools, both public and private, to ensure they adhere to the state’s educational standards. This initiative has led to improved infrastructure, better teaching methodologies, and enhanced learning environments. Teachers are now regularly trained and updated with modern pedagogical skills, ensuring that they can provide the best education to their students. BEQA’s rigorous standards have not only uplifted the quality of education but have also restored confidence among parents and stakeholders in the state’s education system.
Governor Alia’s commitment to education is further exemplified by his extensive scholarship programs. Recognizing that financial constraints often hinder bright students from achieving their full potentials, the Revered gentleman Governor has extended numerous support mechanisms to support deserving students. These scholarships cover a wide range of academic pursuits, from secondary to tertiary education who wishes to participate in international competitions is left behind due to financial constraints.
Consequently, priority has been extended to the sponsorship of students to participate in international competitions. Understanding the value of global exposure and experience, he has ensured that students from Benue State have the opportunity to compete and excel on international platforms.
These competitions not only enhance the students’ skills and knowledge but also put Benue State on the global map as a hub of academic excellence.
Recently, His Excellency pronounced that, going forward, those students who bring laurels to the state will be given special attention as scholarships will be extended to them up to first degrees.
He announced this while playing host to the victorious students who formed part of the national delegation that represented Nigeria at the bilateral international debate competition held in Jakarta, Indonesia, organized for basic education learners under the auspices of the President, School Debate Nigeria (PSDN). The Benue State participants were Sonia Aduba, Ogenyi Favour, Samuel Ochara and Ruth Suurshater.
Another giant stride recorded in the gigantic efforts by the Governor to promote global competition amongst the Benue students community is made conspicuous as five (5) students drawn from the Federal Government College, Vandeikya, represented Nigeria at the just concluded Robotic and Artificial Intelligence Club AKA The Vande Coders.
It must be emphasized that Nigeria is the only African country that participated in the competition. And it is a whole Benue team that qualified to represent the entire African continent. The team departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe international Airport Abuja, on August 1, 2024, and got to their destiny safely, where nothing else aside of excellent performances rolled out for the African continent, Nigeria, and Benue State in particular. Some of the countries that participated with the team are: Vietnam, Nigeria, Germany, South Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Romania, Poland, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and China, among others.
At the close of the event on August 4, 2024, which featured students from over 20 countries in the competition, the Vande Coders won four (4) awards as “Best Core Values Project”, “Robot Design Award”, “Robot Game Award”, and “Innovation Project Award”, respectively. These awards are significant because, it showcases the team’s competence through innovation, Discovery,
The highly covered Core Values Award as described by the CEO and founder of Coderina Edu-Tech Foundation of the Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria, Mr Olajide Ajayi, is one of the four categories of awards in the final of the 2024 First Lego League competition in Hong Kong.The Organizers from the office of the Hong Kong Bureau of Education, the Invited VIP observers, and the Chief Judge of the event, applauded the Vande Coders for being one of the winners in four different award categories among over 20 countries in the world.
The Hong Bureau of Education, the host of the International Event, as a result of the excellent performances of the students, awarded a Medal to the Governor (Fr. Alia), for his foresight and passion in development in technology, especially in the areas of Robotic & Artificial Intelligence. The award to the governor is in recognition of the fact that, only the students from Benue State made it to the international competition from the whole of African continent.
The Vande Coders team, who spoke with this writer from Hong Kong, expressed their gratitude to Governor Alia, and the Robotic and Artificial Intelligence Aficionado, for his passionate support for quality education, that propelled them to participate on a world stage of technological competition in the home of the Asian Technological Tigers (ATT). They also appreciated the Honourable Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, in Benue State, Rev. Dr. Fredrick Ikyaan, for working tirelessly to ensure that the students represent Nigeria at the event, through the directives of the Governor.
It is worthy of note that the South Korean Government in March 2024, invested $7Billion in Artificial Intelligence, even as such a bold move by the Governor to sponsor the students to the competition, has the tendency to catapult the State (Benue), to the top of the food chain in robotics and artificial intelligence in Nigeria, and Africa as a whole, in the nearest future, giving that Artificial Intelligence (AI), is what every developed countries, are leveraging upon.The Vande Coders dedicated the awards to the visionary leader of Robotic and Technology driven Governor, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia.
It is note worthy that, having participated at the regional level (North Central, North East, and North West) for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Lego League Robotic and Artificial Intelligence Competition, organized by Coderina Educational Technology Foundation of the Federal Ministry of Education, in Kaduna State, the Vande Coders emerged 2nd position to compete at the national level, that held at the M.K.O Abiola International Stadium Abuja.
From there, the versatile Benue team came 3rd and won three (3) trophies in different categories, which qualified them to represent Nigeria in “The 2024 Asia Pacific Open Championship”, just concluded at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai District, Hong Kong, China, organized by FIRST LEGO League Education, United States of America (U.S.A), and hosted by Hong Kong Education Bureau & China FLL partners, respectively.
The Vande Coders Team are wholly sponsored by the Benue State Government. The Names of the students that have made the world, Africa, Nigeria, and Benue State in particular proud are: Leva Terkuma Cephas- SS 3B; Gundu Msendoo Faustina- SS 3A; Okom Linus Okom – SS 2A; Alem Solomon Vershima- SS 2A, and Onmeh Sonia Ehi- SS1A.
The team’s Coach is Mr. Echono Boniface, and Dr. Sende Jennifer Soohemba, as Principal/head teacher of Federal Government College Vandeikya.
With this participation at the 2024 Asia Pacific Open Championship and other matters related thereto, is anchored on the chains of hardwood, dedication and unwavering support of the state government which has gone a long way in promoting Science Technical Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Nigeria, Africa and the World as a whole.
In conclusion, Governor Alia’s visionary leadership and dedicated efforts, have revolutionized the education sector in Benue State – through the establishment of Benue Education Quality Assurance, extensive scholarship programs, and sponsorships for international competitions, he has laid a solid foundation for a brighter and more educated future for the state.
The initiatives have not only enhanced the quality of education but have also inspired a new generation of students to strive for excellence. Benue State’s education sector is now a model for other states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Africa, and the world to emulate, courtesy of the Governor’s unwavering commitment and innovative approach.
Kumun, is the Principal Special Assistant to the Benue State Governor on Print Media and writes from Makurdi the State Capital of Benue, Nigeria
