By Aga Samuel Imoter, Jalingo
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has announced plans to expand its flagship Academic Support and Skills Enhancement Programme (ASSEP) across the six states of the North-East to improve education, strengthen teacher capacity, and equip young people with employable skills.
The announcement was made at the end of a two-day stakeholders’ engagement in Jalingo, Taraba State, where government officials, education administrators, development partners, and other stakeholders reviewed the programme’s progress and outlined strategies for its expansion.
Speaking at the event, the General Manager of NEDC’s Relief and Remediation Department, Dr. Batulu Isa Muhammad, said the commission remains committed to addressing the educational challenges caused by years of insecurity through sustained investments in quality teaching, technology-driven learning, and vocational education.
She described ASSEP as a strategic intervention aimed at improving academic performance while preparing young people for the demands of a modern economy through practical training in science, technology, engineering, and vocational skills.
According to her, the programme has already recorded impressive results, with several beneficiaries scoring above 300 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), while none scored below 200.
“Our goal is to ensure that no child is left behind and that young people acquire the knowledge and skills needed to contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.
Dr. Muhammad disclosed that the commission would increase the number of Virtual Reality Science Laboratories from one to six in each of the six North-East states to improve access to technology-enabled learning.
She added that the NEDC is also implementing the Safe Schools Initiative to strengthen school security, improve learning environments, and encourage higher school enrolment across the region.
The commission, she said, will continue collaborating with state governments and relevant stakeholders to improve educational infrastructure, enhance teacher training, and expand access to quality education.
Representing the Taraba State Commissioner for Information and Re-Orientation, the Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, described the programme as a transformative intervention that has significantly improved education delivery in the state.
She said teachers in Taraba have benefited from specialised training in Artificial Intelligence, digital learning, and the Black Belt Teacher Development Programme, resulting in improved classroom instruction and learning outcomes.
Dr. Godwin commended the NEDC for its sustained investment in education across the North-East, describing the interventions as vital to rebuilding the region’s human capital.
She noted that the initiative complements Governor Agbu Kefas’ education reform agenda, particularly the policy on free and compulsory basic education, and revealed that the state government is considering recruiting additional science teachers to strengthen science education in public schools.
The commissioner also advocated increased investment in technical and vocational education to tackle youth unemployment and called for regular academic competitions, debates, and quizzes to promote innovation and identify exceptional talents.
She cited Taraba State’s recent victory at an international debate competition in Rwanda as evidence of the potential of Nigerian students when given adequate support.
In his closing remarks, delivered on behalf of the Taraba State Coordinator of the NEDC, Malam Adamu Lawan, Fitami David thanked participants for their contributions and stressed the need for stronger collaboration among governments, schools, communities, and development partners to improve education across the North-East.
He urged stakeholders to sustain the momentum through transparency, community participation, and effective implementation, noting that continued investment in education and skills development is essential to empowering young people, reducing unemployment, and promoting sustainable development in the region.
