In a major push for educational advancement, the Taraba State Government has disbursed more than N1.8 billion to cover registration costs for students sitting for the 2026 external examinations. The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education, Augustina Godwin, during a cheque presentation ceremony held in Jalingo on Monday.
This initiative is designed to broaden access to education and alleviate the financial strain on families across the state. Commissioner Godwin revealed that N1,613,646,250 has been allocated for 44,133 candidates taking the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams. Additionally, N53,865,000 has been set aside for 1,570 students registered for the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) tests.
Furthermore, the government has released N196,822,190 to facilitate the registration of 38,956 pupils for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). The commissioner highlighted that these actions underscore the administration’s dedication to enhancing educational quality and investing strategically in the sector’s growth.
She emphasized ongoing efforts to revitalize education through exam sponsorships, infrastructure improvements, teacher training, and creating better learning environments. Godwin also called on students, educators, and school leaders to honor this investment by upholding discipline, commitment, and integrity, particularly by avoiding exam malpractices.
The commissioner praised Governor Agbu Kefas for prioritizing children’s futures through timely payment of examination fees, noting that this policy has consistently boosted enrollment and retention rates in Taraba schools. Officials from NECO and NABTEB in the state also lauded the governor, stating that the free registration policy has led to a significant increase in candidate participation compared to previous years.