The Office of the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, through the North East Development Commission (NEDC), has expressed approval of the state of emergency declared by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State. It also announced a training programme for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Agriculture (STEMA) teachers in senior secondary schools across the state to develop digital and technical teaching skills.
This initiative, part of the Academic Support and Skills Enhancement Programme (ASSEP), is expected to expand to many states within the federation.
In her remarks, Dr Maryam Masha, the SSA to the President on NEDC and Regional Development, explained that the initiative is a joint partnership between the NEDC and the Office of the Vice President, which serves as a local cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The event took place on Thursday at Unity College in Damaturu, the state capital, with similar activities carried out in Borno State.
Masha noted that by prioritising human capital development, the programme aims to bridge the educational gap in the North East and equip the next generation with the technical skills essential for a 21st-century economy.
Comrade Mahmud Muhammad, the Personal Assistant on Domestic and North East Affairs to the Vice President and a member of the Project Implementation Team (PIT) for ASSEP, disclosed this during an interview with journalists in a 2-day training programme for secondary school teachers.
He mentioned that the day marked the successful conclusion of the in-person ASSEP training for STEMA teachers from senior secondary schools across the three senatorial districts in the state.
Comrade Mahmud expressed his pleasure that the Yobe State Government is engaging with the programme to enhance teachers’ ability to incorporate technology into their teaching methods as part of a broader effort to improve education in the region.
He added that teachers in the state are expected to utilise digital tools to make learning more interactive and engaging for students.
During the opening of the 2-day programme, the Hon. Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Yobe State, Abba Idris Adam, highlighted that the initiative aims to strengthen pedagogical skills and improve instructional delivery among STEM educators.
Represented by the Director of School Services, Idris Mohammed Fune, the Commissioner stressed the importance of ongoing professional development in improving learning outcomes.
He urged participants to engage actively in collaborative learning, exchange best practices, and adopt innovative teaching strategies such as learner-centred pedagogy, inquiry-based learning, and formative assessment techniques to enhance classroom effectiveness. He also encouraged teachers to serve as good ambassadors wherever they work.
In his opening remarks, the ASSEP Focal Person for the Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme, Audu Alhaji Waziri, emphasised the vital role of STEM education in fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and 21st-century competencies among students.
He highlighted the need for teachers to adopt innovative, technology-driven, and experiential teaching methods to boost student engagement and academic success.
The Board Secretary of the Yobe State Teaching Service Board, Mohammed Ibn Musa, along with the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the state, Ado Idris, called on participants to explore evidence-based instructional strategies, adopt competency-based curricula, and incorporate practical, hands-on learning experiences into STEM teaching.
They further encouraged teachers to inspire students’ interest, creativity, and sustained engagement in STEM subjects.
This training is expected to equip participants with modern pedagogical tools, digital literacy, and innovative classroom practices that will ultimately enhance teaching quality and students’ learning outcomes across secondary schools in Yobe State.
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