Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital is hosting the 85th Plenary Meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee on Education (JCCE).
Declaring the four-day meeting open yesterday at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, His Excellency, the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, described education as a critical instrument for national transformation and development.
The Plenary, scheduled to hold from Tuesday, October 6 to Friday, October 9, 2026, has as its theme, “Infrastructural Development and Teacher Motivation: Panacea for Improved Learning Outcomes”, is intended to bring together education stakeholders from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to deliberate on critical issues affecting education delivery in Nigeria.
Welcoming the delegates to he State, Fubara, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education Dr Peters Nwagor, expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Education for entrusting the State with the responsibility of hosting the national education gathering.
He described the JCCE as the foremost technical and advisory platform for education policy development in Nigeria, noting that decisions reached at the Plenary would have far-reaching implications for teaching and learning across the country.
The Governor said the theme of the meeting was timely, stressing that quality learning outcomes could not be achieved without adequate infrastructure and a motivated teaching workforce.
According to him, “No child learns well in a crumbling classroom, and no teacher gives their best when they are poorly equipped, poorly supported or poorly remunerated.”
He stated that the Rivers State Government, guided by its “Rivers First” philosophy, had placed human capital development at the centre of its governance agenda, with significant attention to the renewal of educational infrastructure, rehabilitation of schools and creation of conducive learning environment.
He called on the JCCE delegates to deliberate boldly and practically on the challenges confronting the education sector, urging them to ensure that resolutions reached at the meeting translated into measurable improvements in the lives of pupils, students and teachers across Nigeria.
The Governor further encouraged delegates to take advantage of their stay in Rivers State to experience the warmth, culture and hospitality of the people, describing Port Harcourt as a city of resilience, enterprise and hospitality.
Earlier, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Folake Olatunji-David, in her address, welcomed delegates to the 85th JCCE Plenary and described the meeting as an important platform for deliberating on critical issues affecting education delivery in Nigeria.
She conveyed the goodwill of the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, to the Government and people of Rivers State for graciously hosting the meeting.
Dr. Olatunji-David expressed appreciation to Governor, the Rivers State Government, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Permanent Secretaries, Education Secretaries, Heads of Education Agencies and other stakeholders for their participation.
She also acknowledged the support of the Federal Ministry of Education in hosting the 2026 JCCE Reference Committee meetings virtually, noting that the meetings had provided a solid foundation for deliberations at the Plenary.
In her goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr. Mina Tele Ikuru, noted that the Rivers State Government is making significant investments and implementing initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of teachers, which ultimately translate into better learning outcomes and positive results in the lives of students.
She observed that the decision to entrust Rivers State with the hosting of the 85th JCCE Plenary Meeting is a testament to the state’s commendable strides in the education sector and an indication that there are laudable achievements worthy of recognition at the national level.
Ikuru urged the delegates to make the most of their stay in Rivers State by not only participating actively in the deliberations of the Plenary, but also taking time to experience the warmth, hospitality and rich cultural heritage of the people of Rivers State.
- Pepple, is the Information/Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Education.