At the inception of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s administration in 2023, Benue State’s education sector faced significant challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, outstanding salary arrears, declining school enrolment and weak regulatory oversight. Arbitrary school fees and the compulsory purchase of new textbooks every session or term further increased the financial burden on parents.

Determined to reverse this trend, Governor Alia introduced far-reaching reforms aimed at improving access to quality education and restoring public confidence in the system. Through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), his administration recruited 9,700 teachers and reconstructed or renovated over 700 public schools. The administration also established the University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh (UASTI), Benue State, introduced free and compulsory education from Basic 1-9, and announced a 25.3 per cent allocation to education in the state's 2026 budget.

Recognising that infrastructure, manpower and funding alone could not guarantee meaningful transformation, the governor also prioritised quality assurance, effective school regulation and credible examination administration.

The Benue State Examinations Board (BSEB), established by Edict No. 5 of 1994 and inaugurated in 1996, was responsible for conducting the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Mock Senior School Certificate Examination (Mock SSCE) and External Basic Education Certificate Examination (EBECE).

Over time, the board encountered operational and institutional challenges that weakened its effectiveness. Concerns about financial accountability, alleged examination-related sharp practices and revenue leakages undermined public confidence. In some cases, staff deployed across the state were accused of collecting examination registration fees without remitting the appropriate amounts.

Inadequate office accommodation, a shortage of serviceable vehicles and outstanding salary arrears owed to casual workers further constrained operations.

As part of his broader educational reforms, Governor Alia established the Bureau for Quality Assurance (BEQA) and appointed Dr. Terna Francis as its substantive Director-General.

Dr. Terna Francis

The bureau was mandated to monitor schools, inspect and evaluate learning institutions, enforce educational standards and promote quality teaching and learning across the state.

Under Dr. Francis’ leadership, BEQA inspected approximately 1,680 schools within his first 15 months in office, identifying challenges such as teacher absenteeism and inadequate supervision.

The bureau also intensified its campaign against unapproved and substandard schools, shutting down over 200 schools in Gboko and 48 in Katsina-Ala, as well as sealing an unregistered school operating in an unfinished hotel building in Makurdi. These efforts formed part of a broader exercise targeting approximately 2,460 unapproved, unregistered, or substandard schools across Benue State that could not provide quality education as prescribed by the National Policy on Education.

The proprietors of these schools had been given a grace period to regularise their records. While many complied and had their names removed from the list of unapproved schools, others remained adamant and refused to obtain government approval, eventually leading to the closure of their schools.

The interventions underscored the importance of effective regulation in ensuring that schools operate within established standards and provide safe, suitable learning environments.

Recognising the need to integrate school quality assurance with credible examination administration, Governor Alia initiated the merger of BSEB and BEQA into a single institution.

Following the passage of the enabling legislation by the Benue State House of Assembly, the governor signed the bill establishing the Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) on 6 November 2025.

The new board brought the responsibilities of the two former institutions under one administrative structure, with Dr. Terna Francis appointed as its substantive Executive Secretary.

The merger was designed to improve coordination, accountability and efficiency by bringing school inspection, regulatory enforcement, quality assurance and examination management under one institution.

Upon assuming leadership of BEQAEB, Dr. Francis initiated administrative and operational reforms to improve productivity and restore accountability.

Staff were redeployed to enhance efficiency, while personnel from the defunct examinations board were integrated into the new structure. The board also cleared outstanding salary arrears owed to casual workers, addressing a longstanding welfare concern that had affected staff morale.

To improve examination logistics, serviceable vehicles were repaired, strengthening the transportation of examination materials to schools across Benue State’s 23 local government areas.

Financial transparency also received attention through the introduction of automated registration payments for the BECE and Mock SSCE. The adoption of electronic and point-of-sale (POS) transactions helped reduce cash handling, minimise opportunities for revenue leakages and promote greater accountability in the registration process.

One of BEQAEB’s notable achievements has been the production of the 2024 and 2025 BECE certificates, which reportedly had not been issued since 2017.

The prolonged delay created difficulties for parents and pupils who needed examination certificates as evidence of educational progression. The renewed production of these documents has therefore helped address a longstanding administrative challenge and restored confidence in an essential component of the education system while providing relief to affected parents and their wards.

The board has also committed to ensuring that certificates are produced and issued annually, helping to prevent a recurrence of the delays experienced in previous years.

In further support of the reforms, a 72-office ultramodern complex was completed to provide a suitable working environment for BEQAEB.

The facility is expected to improve coordination among staff and support the board’s expanding responsibilities, including school inspections, examination logistics and administrative operations.

The successful conduct of the BECE and Mock SSCE under the new institutional arrangement further highlighted the importance of adequate infrastructure and operational support in delivering effective public services.

BEQAEB’s responsibilities extend beyond examinations to enforcing government policies designed to protect learners and reduce the financial burden on parents.

In line with the government’s textbook reuse policy, the board has sealed two schools for violating the directive. The action reinforces the administration’s determination to discourage practices that compel parents to purchase new textbooks unnecessarily every session or term.

At a time when many households face economic difficulties, effective implementation of this policy can help make education more affordable.

Sustained progress, however, will require consistent monitoring, fair enforcement, public awareness and cooperation from school proprietors. Through these efforts, BEQAEB can help ensure that the pursuit of quality education does not impose unnecessary financial hardship on families.

The establishment of BEQAEB represents an important milestone in Governor Alia’s efforts to reposition education in Benue State. From recruiting teachers and rehabilitating public schools to introducing free and compulsory basic education and increasing budgetary commitment, the administration has pursued a broad programme of educational reforms.

BEQAEB occupies a strategic position within this agenda because it focuses on the quality, regulation and credibility of the education system. While teachers, classrooms and learning materials are essential, sustainable improvement also requires effective oversight, reliable examinations, transparent financial processes and consistent enforcement of standards.

Under Dr. Francis, the board has begun addressing longstanding challenges through staff restructuring, improved examination logistics, electronic registration payments, the production of outstanding certificates and enforcement of government policies.

With sustained political commitment, professional leadership and effective oversight, BEQAEB has the potential to become a major pillar of Governor Alia’s educational legacy, helping to build a system in which standards are upheld, parents are protected, examinations are credible and every child has a fair opportunity to succeed.

Jeffrey Adzam

Information Officer

BEQAEB