The Vice-Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, has reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to partnering with the Lapai Local Education Authority (LEA) to strengthen basic education through teacher capacity development, ICT training, and other strategic interventions.
Professor Sulaiman gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the Education Secretary of the Lapai Local Education Authority, Malam Umar Yanda Galadima, and members of his management team to the Vice-Chancellor’s office in Lapai.
During the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged several challenges facing basic education in the area, including a shortage of qualified teachers, limited opportunities for staff development, and inadequate ICT skills among teachers and administrators.
He said the university would review the requests presented by the education authority and identify practical areas where it could provide support in line with its mandate and available resources.
According to Professor Sulaiman, IBB University remains committed to its core responsibilities of teaching, research, and community service, noting that community engagement is a key aspect of the institution’s mission.
He disclosed that the university management would consider interventions such as ICT capacity-building programmes, professional development opportunities for teachers, and the deployment of students from the Faculty of Education for teaching practice in schools under the Local Education Authority to help address staffing gaps.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the university’s ongoing Summer Science Coaching Programme aimed at improving students’ performance in WAEC and NECO examinations. He noted that the second phase of the programme is scheduled to commence in August, describing it as part of the university’s broader contribution to educational development.
Earlier, Malam Galadima commended the university for its longstanding support for education in Lapai Local Government Area and appealed for a broader partnership to enhance teaching and learning outcomes in primary and junior secondary schools.
He identified inadequate staffing, limited teacher training opportunities, and insufficient ICT knowledge among education personnel as major challenges confronting the sector.
The Education Secretary requested support for continuous teacher training, particularly in digital literacy and modern teaching methods, and appealed for education students undertaking teaching practice to be posted to schools within the authority.
Galadima also invited the Vice-Chancellor to visit a newly established science-focused basic school in Lapai, describing the institution as an investment designed to promote science and technology education among young learners.
Other members of the university management described the visit as an important step toward strengthening collaboration between the institution and its host community. They reiterated the university’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve educational standards and promote human capital development.
The management team further noted that the university’s Staff School could serve as a model for quality basic education through staff exchange programmes, curriculum support, teacher mentoring, and capacity-building workshops.
The meeting ended with both parties expressing optimism that stronger collaboration between IBB University and the Lapai Local Education Authority would contribute to improving the quality of education and developing a more skilled teaching workforce across the local government area.
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Education