VP Kashim Shettima
Office of the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, in collaboration with the North East Development Commission (NEDC), has commended the state of emergency earlier declared on education by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, while launching a capacity-building programme for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Agriculture (STEMA) teachers across senior secondary schools in the state.
The training, organised under the Academic Support and Skills Enhancement Programme (ASSEP), is designed to equip teachers with digital and technical teaching skills aimed at improving learning outcomes and preparing students for a technology-driven economy. The initiative is also expected to be extended to other states across the federation.
The two-day training programme held on Thursday at Unity College, Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. A similar exercise has also been conducted in neighbouring Borno State as part of broader regional education support efforts.
Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on NEDC and Regional Development, Dr. Maryam Masha, described the initiative as a strategic collaboration between the Office of the Vice President and the North East Development Commission.
According to her, the programme represents a key intervention aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in advancing human capital development across the North East.
Masha explained that the initiative seeks to bridge educational gaps in the region and equip students with the practical and technical knowledge required for the 21st-century economy.
Also speaking, the Personal Assistant to the Vice President on Domestic and North East Affairs and member of the Project Implementation Team (PIT) of ASSEP, Comrade Mahmud Muhammad, said the training marked the successful completion of the in-person session for STEMA teachers drawn from the three senatorial districts of Yobe State.
He expressed satisfaction with the participation of the Yobe State Government, noting that the programme is designed to strengthen teachers’ ability to integrate digital tools into classroom instruction.
According to him, the training will enable teachers to make learning more interactive and engaging for students through the adoption of modern educational technologies.
Declaring the two-day training open, the Yobe State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Abba Idris Adam, described the programme as timely and relevant to strengthening teaching competencies among STEM educators.
Represented by the Director of School Services, Idris Mohammed Fune, the commissioner emphasised the importance of continuous professional development in improving educational outcomes.
He encouraged participants to actively collaborate, share best practices, and adopt innovative approaches such as learner-centred teaching, inquiry-based learning and formative assessment techniques.
The commissioner also urged teachers to serve as ambassadors of educational excellence wherever they are posted.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the ASSEP Focal Person for the Acceleration Senior Secondary Education Programme, Audu Alhaji Waziri, highlighted the importance of STEM education in developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students.
He stressed the need for educators to embrace technology-driven and experiential learning methods to improve academic performance.
Similarly, the Secretary of the Yobe State Teaching Service Board, Mohammed Ibn Musa, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the state, Ado Idris, urged participants to adopt evidence-based instructional strategies and competency-based curriculum approaches.
They also encouraged teachers to incorporate hands-on learning experiences capable of inspiring creativity and sustained student interest in STEM-related subjects.
The training is expected to equip teachers with modern pedagogical tools, improve digital literacy, and promote innovative classroom practices. Stakeholders believe the initiative will significantly enhance teaching quality and improve students’ learning outcomes across secondary schools in Yobe State.
The intervention forms part of ongoing efforts by the Office of the Vice President and NEDC to strengthen education systems and support long-term development in the North East region.
