IMSUBEB Inaugurates School-Based Management Committees to Strengthen Public Schools, Honours Education Advocates, Uchegbu, Nwadikwa, Ndukwe, Akataka Others in a Grand Style
By Anselem Anokwute
The Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB) has inaugurated members of the School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) across the state, as part of efforts to improve the administration of public schools and address challenges such as land encroachment, inadequate teaching personnel, and declining academic standards.
The inauguration ceremony, held on April 29, 2026, at the IMSUBEB Office Complex in Owerri, brought together SBMC executives at the state level, as well as representatives from the 27 local government areas and 305 wards. The committees were formally sworn in and mandated to foster collaboration between communities and school authorities to enhance educational outcomes from kindergarten through secondary school.
Governor Hope Uzodimma, represented by the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Bernard Ikeagwuoha, charged the newly inaugurated members to be diligent, proactive, and committed in the discharge of their duties. The governor, who was also represented during part of the proceedings by his Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation of Public Schools, Hon. Sir Bright Nwachukwu, emphasized the need to return schools to community ownership and restore high academic standards across the state.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator of SBMC, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Gwandu, commended Imo State for embracing the initiative and urged members to work towards revitalizing public schools. He stressed that education remains central to societal development and noted that increased community and private sector participation would significantly enhance teaching and learning.
Also speaking, the SBMC Zonal Coordinator, Engr. Prof. Stephen Ufoaroh, noted that Imo State is among the leading states implementing the programme. He explained that SBMC is a nationally recognized structure aimed at strengthening community involvement in school management, adding that such collaboration is critical for sustainable development in the education sector.
Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Prof. Ufoaroh described it as a strategic step towards empowering communities to take ownership of their schools, thereby improving infrastructure, accountability, and overall performance.
At the event, several individuals were honoured with IMSUBEB Special Recognition Awards for their contributions to the development of education in their communities. Among the awardees were Chief Kyrian Uchegbu of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Ifeanyi Nwadikwa, Prince Obioha Ndukwe, Nze Charles Asikagu (Akataka Owerri), Chief Vitalis Ugochukwu Obi (Etiokwe), and some local government chairmen, among others.
Responding on behalf of the award recipients, Dr. Kyrian Uchegbu expressed gratitude to IMSUBEB for the recognition, noting that his contributions to the education sector were driven by a passion for societal development. He pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education.
Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, the Executive Chairman of IMSUBEB, Hon. Chidiebere Egbo, reiterated the board’s commitment to restoring the glory of public schools in Imo State. He emphasized that the SBMC framework would help eliminate illegal land encroachment, strengthen monitoring mechanisms, and promote active community participation in school management.
Similarly, the SBMC Coordinator for Njaba Local Government Area, Dr. Ethian Chinakwe, described the initiative as a long-awaited development. He expressed optimism that the committees would play a vital role in ensuring effective monitoring, improved infrastructure, and enhanced academic standards in public schools across the state.
The inauguration marks a significant step towards repositioning the education sector in Imo State through inclusive governance and strengthened community engagement.
