STAF 2025 Summit Targets Insecurity, Poverty, Education Gaps in Southern Taraba.

By Jako, December 18, 2025.

The Southern Taraba Academics’ Forum (STAF) has announced plans to hold its 2025 Annual Summit with a focus on promoting sustainable development and empowerment in Southern Taraba.

The summit, themed “Sustainable Development and Empowerment in Southern Taraba: Addressing Insecurity, Poverty and Educational Challenges,” is scheduled for Monday, 29th December, 2025, by 10:00am at the 1,000-Capacity Auditorium, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State.

According to the organisers, the summit is designed to bring together academics, policymakers, traditional rulers and key stakeholders to deliberate on practical solutions to insecurity, poverty and educational challenges confronting Southern Taraba and the state at large.

The Vice-Chancellor of Taraba State University, Prof. Sunday Paul Bako, will serve as the Chief Host, while the Vice-Chancellor of Kwararafa University, Wukari, Prof. Shishi Zhema, is the Principal Host.

Expected guest speakers at the summit include Prof. Solomon A.O. Iyekepolo, Director, Institute of Distance Education and Lifelong Learning, Taraba State University; Prof. Benjamin Kefas of the University of Virginia, United States of America; and Prof. Bala A. Musa (PhD) of Azusa Pacific University, USA.

The Executive Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, will attend the event as Special Guest of Honour.

Several eminent personalities and traditional rulers will be honoured as special awardees, including His Royal Majesty, Dr. Manu Ishaku Adda Ali Matakhitswen, Aku Uka, Chairman Taraba State Council of Traditional Rulers; His Royal Majesty, Amb. Sanvalu Varzoa Shimbura, Gara Donga; and His Royal Majesty, Barrister Sofiya Amadu Boshi III, Chief of Takum.

Other dignitaries expected at the summit include the National President of STAF, Dr. Rimamde Ubandoma. Joel (Host); Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Wukari, Professor Jude Samani Rabo; Majority Leader of the Taraba State House of Assembly and Member representing Wukari I, Hon. Jethro Yakubu Zikengyu; and Hon. Josiah Yaro Angye, Member representing Wukari II Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Education.

The Chairman of the occasion is His Excellency, Ambassador Idris Waziri, Chairman of the Governing Council, Taraba State University, Jalingo.

Organisers say the summit will serve as a strategic platform for intellectual engagement, policy dialogue and collective action aimed at fostering peace, educational advancement and socio-economic development in Southern Taraba.

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