GOVERNOR Hyacinth Alia of Benue State on Monday approved the sponsorship of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration fees for 400 pre-degree and remedial students at the Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology (BUAST) in Ihugh.
Governor Alia made the commitment during an inspection of the ongoing hostel construction project at BUAST, where he expressed satisfaction with the progress of at the construction site.
The governor’s gesture was announced in a statement released on Monday by Solomon Iorpev, the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media, Publicity, and Strategic Communication.
According to the statement, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s belief in education as a fundamental driver of development, reiterating a commitment to utilizing it as a tool for repositioning the state.
According to Iorpev, the sponsorship is designed to motivate learners to continue their academic journeys and ultimately enable them to play their roles in the state’s socio-economic advancement.
Alia encouraged students to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the government, including the sponsored JAMB UTME registrations. He urged them to remain dedicated to their studies and to contribute positively to the future development of Benue State.
Governor Alia emphasised that a strong educational foundation is critical for Benue’s progress, particularly in key sectors such as agriculture and entrepreneurship, where innovation is essential.
During the tour of the BUAST hostel site, the governor assessed the ongoing work and voiced approval regarding the quality and speed of construction. He reiterated that such infrastructure investments are part of a broader strategy to deliver sound and accessible education to the people of Benue. The objective, he stated, is to empower the youth with the competencies necessary to excel in a competitive global environment.
The governor further highlighted that this initiative aligns with existing programs, such as the recently launched Building Rights to Access and Compulsory Education for Unenrolled Pupils (BRACE-UP) project.
That specific program focuses on ensuring that all school-age children in the state have access to formal education, forming a critical element of the administration’s wider plan to combat poverty and expand educational access.
