An Asessment of Universal Basic Education and Combating Hiv-Aids as Millennium Development Goals in Taraba State-Nigeria(2013-2015)

AN ASSESSMENT OF UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION AND COMBATING HIV- AIDS AS MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN TARABA STATE.{2013-2015}

BY

ATIMAN KASIMA WILSON & POLYCARP MUNYA

1. Department of General studies, Federal Polytechnic, Bali-Nigeria

kasimaatiman@yahoo.com

2. M.sc Student, Benue State University, Makurdi

polydanmunya@gmail.com

Abstract

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are commitments and road map for developing countries including Nigeria to provide basic needs to her citizens. The United Nation adopted eight {8} goals to address the problems of poverty and promotion of sustainable development in a declaration in September 2000. This paper assesses the performance in Universal Basic Education and combating HIV/AIDS in Taraba state from 2000 to 2014.The study employed the secondary sources of data collection where it also found a remarkable achievement in the UBE and the fight against HIV/AIDS in the study area. The study also found challenges that hindered the progress of ensuring children complete a full course of primary education, halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. The study recommends an urgent need for the state government to redouble its effort in ensuring that primary school education is accessible to all and the current prevalence rate of Taraba state which stands at 10.5 per cent and second to River state in Nigeria spells danger for the future of so many young men and women in the state.

Key Words – Universal Basic Education, HIV/AIDS, Poverty reduction/ eradication, development, Millennium development goals, Policy, Taraba State Action...