Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has publicly praised the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Dr. Kassim Mohammed Kassim, for implementing what he termed outstanding reforms in the primary and junior secondary education sector.
State Recognition for Transformative Leadership
The commendation was formalized in a letter presented on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the State Secretariat in Lafia. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, who delivered the letter, stated that the gesture followed deliberations and approval by the State Executive Council. He emphasized that the Sule administration prioritizes basic education as the cornerstone of human capital development.
"Since the assumption of office of our dear friend, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Dr. Kassim Mohammed Kassim, we have witnessed a clear transformation in the way primary education is being handled in Nasarawa State," Magaji declared.
Key Achievements and Concrete Actions
The SSG outlined specific achievements that earned the SUBEB chairman the governor's applause. A major highlight was the strategic redeployment of administrative staff to address critical teacher shortages.
Dr. Magaji disclosed that over 1,000 staff previously assigned to office duties have been moved back to classrooms to teach. "Records have shown that many staff who were redundant, particularly in offices, were redeployed to the classrooms, thereby bridging the gap created by the shortage of teachers to teach our children," he explained.
Furthermore, the quality of school infrastructure projects has seen significant improvement due to stringent supervision by the SUBEB management. The SSG noted a departure from past practices, with current projects receiving close monitoring to ensure quality delivery of classrooms and toilets.
Another milestone was the organization of the state's first-ever Basic Education Summit by SUBEB, an initiative that aligned perfectly with Governor Sule's vision for educational development.
A Culture of Reward and Integrity
Dr. Magaji revealed that a similar letter of commendation was presented to the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Scholarship Board. She was recognized for her integrity in returning over ₦120 million to government coffers after detecting an error during scholarship disbursement.
"That amount could have been wasted or diverted, but because of her conscience, she returned it to the coffers of the state government to be used for the benefit of the people," the SSG stated. He stressed that these commendations are part of a system to reward transparency, diligence, and effective service delivery in public office.
In his letter, Governor Sule personally commended Dr. Kassim's hands-on leadership and regular monitoring of schools, which he said has strengthened teaching and learning. "Your exemplary leadership and the pace of your stewardship are worthy of commendation and align with our resolve to uplift the standard of education in Nasarawa State," the governor wrote.
SUBEB Chairman's Response and Future Plans
In his response, the SUBEB Chairman, Hon. Kassim Mohammed Kassim, expressed profound gratitude for the recognition, describing it as humbling and motivating. He attributed the successes to collective effort and detailed key reforms undertaken within six months of his tenure.
Kassim provided more context on the teacher redeployment drive, revealing that about 4,000 qualified teachers were initially found posted to administrative offices. "So far, we have redeployed 1,009 back to classrooms, and plans are underway to redeploy another 1,000," he said.
Looking forward, he announced that Governor Sule has approved the recruitment of an additional 1,000 teachers, primarily for rural communities facing acute shortages. The chairman also appealed for special allowances to motivate teachers willing to serve in hard-to-reach areas.
Dr. Kassim reaffirmed SUBEB's unwavering commitment to revitalizing basic education in Nasarawa, asserting that sustainable development must begin with a solid educational foundation.
