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  • UBEC reaffirms commitment to basic education reforms

    UBEC reaffirms commitment to basic education reforms

    The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to bridging the gap between planning and performance in Nigeria’s basic education sector towards ensuring access to quality education for every Nigerian child.

    Speaking in Lagos on Monday at the 27th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), Garba highlighted the significant strides made in reforming and repositioning the sector, noting that progress recorded so far is only a first step towards achieving greater impact.

    She emphasised that while these reforms represent significant progress, they must be consolidated through stronger accountability and performance management systems.

    “Our sector is not lacking in sound policies and robust plans for basic education. The real challenge is translating these plans into tangible outcomes. Too often, we see a disconnect between planning and performance, largely due to poor coordination, weak institutional capacity, inconsistencies in financial management, and limited mechanisms to track progress and adjust programmes,” she said.

    On key achievements so far, she said: “Revision of the UBEC Matching grant formula to improve data-driven resource allocation, equity, and accountability.

    “Improving states’ access to financing for basic education through the UBEC matching grants; 27 out of the 36+1 states have accessed part of the N121 billion un-accessed matching grants backlogs from 2024, representing a 65% increase in access to finance.

    “Revamp of the two-decade-old Basic Education Action Plan (BEAP) template and process to promote needs-based planning and accelerate implementation.

    “Expansion of school infrastructure nationwide, with 4,900 classrooms constructed, 3,000 renovated, and 354,000 units of furniture supplied, directly benefiting over 2.3 million learners in 2025 alone.

    Read Also: UBEC targets 1m girls for empowerment, education

    “Launch of Nigeria’s largest teacher development programme with a N 22 billion investment in teacher capacity building to enhance teaching and learning outcomes.

    “If we are to move from aspirations to impact, UBEC cannot do this work alone. Only through state-level collaboration, commitment, and consistency can we ensure that every Nigerian child not only has access to education but also receives the quality learning they deserve,” she added.

     Dean of SUBEB Chairmen, Prof. Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, emphasized the importance of evidence-based planning, digital tools, and data-driven decision-making in strengthening basic education delivery. He urged SUBEBs and UBEC to conduct regular assessments to track learners’ progress and ensure that schools are adequately equipped with classrooms, libraries, technology, and learning materials.

  • UBEC targets 1m girls for empowerment, education

    UBEC targets 1m girls for empowerment, education

    The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has unveiled plans to educate and economically empower 1 million underserved Nigerian girls under the Learning, Uniting, Modernising, Innovating, Nurturing, Accelerating, and Harmonising (LUMINAH) 2030 initiative.

    UBEC’s Executive Secretary Aisha Garba, announced this at the opening of a five-day programme on LUMINAH 2030-UBEC Migration and Establishment Agenda in Abuja.

    She said the commission had formally taken over the initiative from the Federal Ministry of Education and that the government’s action was a timely and necessary step to guarantee sustainability and long-term impact.

    Garba said: “LUMINAH 2030 illuminates the path to education and empowerment. It integrates schooling, skills training, caregiver support, and community engagement to address the root causes that have kept our girls out of school.”

    The UBEC chief, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Razak Akinyemi, lauded the contributions of Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), the global support programme that has nurtured LUMINAH 2030 since inception.

    Read Also: UBEC: Improving basic education outcomes for Nigerian children

    She averred that AGILE’s international framework has a limited lifespan.

    Garba stressed that embedding LUMINAH 2030 within UBEC ensures institutionalisation, alignment with Nigeria’s education priorities, and a lasting legacy.

    She said: “By institutionalising LUMINAH within UBEC, we ensure that it will not fade away but endure. It is fully aligned with UBEC’s seven pillars in the 10-year roadmap (2021–2030) and the national education transformation agenda. Our expectations are clear: to deliver an inclusive, scalable, and data-driven model that reaches the most marginalized girls.”

    Garba outlined UBEC’s commitment to strong partnerships with state governments, the civil society, the private sector, and local communities, emphasising accountability and measurable impact through rigorous monitoring and evaluation.

  • UBEC targets one million girls for empowerment, education

    UBEC targets one million girls for empowerment, education

    The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has declared plans to educate and economically empower one million underserved Nigerian girls under the Learning, Uniting, Modernising, Innovating, Nurturing, Accelerating, and Harmonising (LUMINAH) 2030 initiative.

    The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, said this at the opening of a 5-day programme on LUMINAH 2030-UBEC Migration and Establishment Agenda, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    She said the commission has formally taken over the initiative from the Federal Ministry of Education, saying that the takeover of the project was a timely and necessary step to guarantee sustainability and long-term impact.

    Garba said, “LUMINAH 2030 illuminates the path to education and empowerment. It integrates schooling, skills training, caregiver support, and community engagement to address the root causes that have kept our girls out of school.”

    The UBEC chief, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Technical, Razak Akinyemi, commended the contributions of Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), the global support programme that has nurtured LUMINAH 2030 since inception and noted, however, that AGILE’s international framework has a limited lifespan.

    Garba said that embedding LUMINAH 2030 within UBEC ensures institutionalisation, alignment with Nigeria’s education priorities, and a lasting legacy.

    She said, “By institutionalising Lumina within UBEC, we ensure that it will not fade away, but endure. It is fully aligned with UBEC’s seven pillars in the 10-year roadmap (2021–2030) and the national education transformation agenda. Our expectations are clear: to deliver an inclusive, scalable, and data-driven model that reaches the most marginalised girls.”

    Garba outlined UBEC’s commitment to strong partnerships with state governments, civil society, the private sector, and local communities, while emphasising accountability and measurable impact through rigorous monitoring and evaluation.

    She urged participants to treat the migration process as more than a formality, but as a transformational moment that must yield concrete actions.

    “Every educator trained, every caregiver empowered, and every community mobilised is a victory for Nigeria,” she added.

    Launched in March 2025 and assisted by the World Bank, the project is to educate and economically empower over one million underserved girls and women across Nigeria by 2030.

    Other objectives of the project are to provide vocational skills and financial support to female caregivers, establish flexible, safe learning centres for girls, promote gender-equitable education policies, and build a scalable, data-driven model for national adoption.

    The initiative is currently implemented in the 12 states of the federation including Yobe and Taraba in the North East, Kano and Jigawa in the North West.

    Others are Benue and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in the North Central, Ebonyi and Anambra in the South East as well as Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States in the South-south.

    Speaking earlier, the National Coordinator of the LUMINAH 2030 initiative, Mrs Amina Buba, described the transfer of the programme’s implementation structure as a “strategic step towards sustainability and impact.”

    Buba said the transition was not just an administrative shift but a deliberate move to strengthen the institutional framework needed to deliver on the initiative’s ambitious goal of educating and economically empowering at least one million underserved adolescent girls by the year 2030.

    She recalled that since its inception, the Ministry of Education, under the leadership of the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed, had established strong governance structures, including a National Steering Committee chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as well as sub-committees co-chaired by ministry directors.

    “With this migration to UBEC, we are embracing a more specialised and flexible system that will deepen stakeholder collaboration, enhance resource mobilisation, and ultimately deliver measurable impact,”  Buba noted.

    Read Also: UBEC: Improving basic education outcomes for Nigerian children

    She urged all stakeholders to “innovate boldly and work together” to ensure that the promises of the LUMINAH 2030 initiative translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerian adolescent girls.

    On its part, the implementing partners of the LUMINAH 2030 initiative, Neem Foundation, said the project’s commitment to creating learning that integrates education with financial literacy and market-driven skills resonates deeply with the foundation’s approach to education.

    Represented by its Senior Programme Officer on Education, Minoe Duamwan, the Foundation noted that true learning can only thrive when education is combined with healing, resilience and empowerment.

    “With our proven experience and technical expertise in trauma-informed education, Neem Foundation stands ready to support the implementation of this vision, LUMINAH 2030’s focus on financial inclusion, skill development, and collective participation aligned with our commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces where girls can learn, heal, and lead,” Duamwan said.

  • UBEC: Improving basic education outcomes for Nigerian children

    UBEC: Improving basic education outcomes for Nigerian children

    By Olamide Apejoye

    Billionaire businessman and chairman of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, addressed an expanded session of the National Economic Council (NEC) in Abuja on Thursday, March 22, 2018. At the session, Gates reminded Nigeria of the importance of making tangible investments in human capital, especially education, by saying that, “to anchor the economy over the long term, investments in infrastructure and competitiveness must go hand in hand with investments in people.”

    In development, education is one of the core components of human capital; it is responsible for the development of skills, competencies, and productivity and accounts for a net positive impact on economic growth. It is therefore not surprising that some of the most advanced economies also have the highest Human Development Index; take the Scandinavian countries, for example. For many scholars, education is the single most essential element in the upliftment of people from poverty.

    In Nigeria, there have been several education interventions in the past; one such is the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), established in 1999 as a reform programme for improving access and quality in basic education. Since its inception at the outset of this republic, preceding governments have made efforts to build on the foundational ideals of the commission, but there is no doubt that the current government realises that there is still so much work to be done, from enhancing school enrolment, curriculum to infrastructure and funding.

    It was the awareness of this enormous task that informed the appointment of Aisha Garba in December 2024 as substantive Executive Secretary of the commission. Garba, headhunted from the World Bank, had, prior to her appointment with the Nigerian government, served as a senior education specialist with the World Bank, bringing more than 24 years’ combined experience and 15 years at the multilateral institution. Garba has had experience designing and implementing key education programmes in Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Kenya, the USA, and the United Kingdom. Her work of over two decades earned her the title of a bold education reformer.

    In just seven months of championing reforms at UBEC, Garba has demonstrated that leadership can deliver tangible results. Under her watch, Nigeria has opened a new page in education reforms, and the outcome is already evident in curriculum, school enrolment numbers, teacher training, key infrastructure upgrades and support for sub-nationals through grants.

    Through her reforms, basic education is returning to its core mandate of delivering literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills to students through the overhaul of curriculum and the introduction of digital literacy and entrepreneurship. Her reforms have also focused on outcome-based learning, a more learner-centred approach that places emphasis on skills and practical knowledge.

    In seven months, UBEC has constructed 4,951 new classrooms and renovated 3,070 others across the country. It has also supplied over 353,625 units of school furniture and distributed more than six million primary school textbooks to students. It has distributed an estimated 420,009 library materials and another 158,000 Nigerian history books to improve student knowledge of Nigerian history and current affairs.

    In terms of curriculum, UBEC, in partnership with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), has initiated the overhaul of the curriculum to include digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking and established the Teacher Professional Development Initiative, which has impacted more than 978,800 teachers.

    Perhaps the most significant change under her watch is the reform of a hitherto rigid plan that has constituted a bulwark in the way of sub-nationals looking to access the UBEC matching grant. Through her transparent and simplified reforms, sub-national access to UBE funds has increased. About 28 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have received N78.6 billion out of the N120 billion allocated for 2024. Simple as this appears, it was quite herculean before Aisha Garba’s bold commitment to reforming the process.

    Under the previous plan, it was metaphorically easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for states to access the UBEC matching grants for nearly two decades. This was a period of missed opportunity that denied sub-nationals the funding support they needed to implement basic school key infrastructure projects. Garba’s reform has removed the bottlenecks standing in the way of progress in an efficient and transparent manner. The access to the UBE fund has increased enrolment, especially in northern Nigeria, where enrolment numbers have been playing catch-up, with several children accessing school for the first time.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s cocoa exports surge to N1.2tr

    Garba’s leadership is also maximising strategic partnerships with development partners, including the World Bank, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom (FCDO). She has engaged her network and deployed her capacity to raise funds through development partners, a reflection of her role at the World Bank.

    It hasn’t been without challenges. Garba’s work has attracted a lot of praise, as Nigerians took out time to commend the progress already witnessed whilst hoping for more. Some elements have also deployed unwholesome tools to distract from the work. They issued press statements that appeared like the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob, looking to use deception to misrepresent her work and position. It took a quick minister of education, Tunji Alausa, to repel those media attacks whilst using the opportunity to proclaim some of Aisha Garba’s successes. Reformers will always thrive when the political system goes out of its way to protect them from the sharks hell-bent on business as usual.

    Garba’s strategic leadership and vision continue to reposition UBEC as a high-impact, transparent, and reform-focused institution that delivers on its mandate of access, equity, and quality education to Nigerian children. Considering the length of her mandate, you could say it is early days, but it is a good sign of what is coming in the day when it gets to be reflected in the morning. If she manages to maintain the focus and commitment, as she is indeed known to do in her previous assignments, we can expect to see unprecedented outcomes in the vision of UBEC, as intended when it was founded years ago.

    •Apejoye writes from Abuja

  • Probe UBEC procurement process, coalition tells anti-graft agencies

    Probe UBEC procurement process, coalition tells anti-graft agencies

    The Education Rights Activists Coalition (ERAC) has called on anti-corruption agencies to probe the procurement processes of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

    The coalition also advised the Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, to resign to give room for an investigation into allegations levelled against her.

     President of the Coalition, Comrade Odoh Dave, in a press conference on Monday, claimed that there was a need to probe UBEC and Garba to ensure transparency.

     He noted that there were complaints against Garba over alleged infractions, disregard for the rule of law.

    Dave said, “We have confirmed, from independent insiders, that the supposed ‘new organogram’ introduced is yet to be subjected to National Assembly oversight.

    “Nevertheless, it is important that everyone understands that UBEC is a statutory body with a defined governance framework and oversight hierarchy. It is not a one-person fiefdom.

    “Leadership in such a sensitive agency demands fidelity to law, respect for institutions, and adherence to procedural orthodoxy.”

    Read Also: Outcry over states’ failure to utilise accessed N250b UBEC cash

    The coalition president said a thorough investigation into UBEC procurement processes would strengthen public trust in the agency.

    He said, “These allegations, including concerns over procurement processes—if substantiated—are grave enough to warrant not just resignation, but a full forensic investigation by the anti-corruption agencies.

    “We are calling for a forensic and independent investigation of all contracts, changes personnel decisions, and procurement practices undertaken since the boss assumed office. If exonerated, so be it. But if found culpable, the full weight of the law must apply.

    “Indeed, we have begun filing formal petitions to the Public Complaints Commission, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, the National Assembly Committees on Basic Education, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “We are also liaising with legal practitioners to file a public interest suit seeking judicial interpretation of the scope of powers exercised by the Executive Secretary.”

  • Accessibility of UBEC funds under review, says education minister

    Accessibility of UBEC funds under review, says education minister

    The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad, has said the guidelines for accessing intervention funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) are currently being reviewed to make them more flexible.

    Ahmad spoke at a two-day interactive session on Government-citizens’ Engagement organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation yesterday in Kaduna.

    Three weeks ago, UBEC had accused state governments of not utilising the N250 billion they accessed from the Commission.

    According to the Commission, the states retained the funds instead of utilising the resources to develop basic education.

    But yesterday, the minister noted that going forward, the disbursement of funds to the state governments would be tied to performance metrics.

    She added: “This is to ensure quality control and value for money.”

    UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, accused the states of the infraction at a three-day financial management training programme which opened in Abuja on July 21.

    The most common issue with the UBEC fund was the failure of states to provide counterpart funding to enable them to access it.

    Dr. Garba, represented by Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical),  Razaq Akinyemi, said: “The basic challenge remains not only accessing the remaining UBE Intervention Fund, but importantly, the slow utilisation of the Fund with over N250 billion still being retained as unutilised in the coffers of the 36 SUBEBS & FCT-UBEB as at today.”

    UBEC is funded as a first-line charge from the collectable education tax and other sources.

    Read Also: Reps pass vote of confidence on UBEC Executive Secretary

    It is made available to states after their counterpart funding for the development of basic education.

    Lapses identified by the UBEC boss include slow access to the UBE Matching Grant, slow utilisation of the fund, non-compliance with the fund utilisation guidelines, diversion of funds, non-deduction and remittance of taxes, non-compliance with the due process in the award of contracts for the execution of basic education projects, non-adherence to the approved action plan, among others.

    She emphasised that UBEC’s goal is to ensure that participants understand and carry out the very crucial responsibility of ensuring that every naira allocated to the UBE programme is accounted for and effectively utilised in ways that add value and have a positive impact on the learning outcomes of the Nigerian child.

    The training is for state officials who are managing the universal basic education to enable them to widen their knowledge and develop better skills.

    It was a three-day event which held from July 21.

    “This edition of the training is thus another critical milestone in our collective pursuit of ensuring transparency, accountability, and prudence in the management of public resources entrusted to us for the delivery of quality basic education.

    “That is why we have carefully ensured that this particular training is expected to cover a range of pertinent areas including the new template for preparing SUBEB Action Plans, Overview of the Nigerian Tax Reforms Act, 2025, financial infractions, violations resulting in audit queries & red flags in the execution of UBE funded projects, Procurement Procedures, and maintenance of financial records, among others,” Dr. Garba said.

    • SEE ALSO PAGE 15
  • States fail to utilise accessed N250 billion UBEC cash

    States fail to utilise accessed N250 billion UBEC cash

    • N92b shared between January and June

    State governments have retained N250 billion Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds they accessed instead of utilising the resources to develop basic education.

    Executive Secretary Dr Aisha Garba disclosed the twist to the UBEC arrangement yesterday at a financial management training programme in Abuja.

    The most common issue with the UBEC fund was the failure of states to provide counterpart funding to enable them to access it.

    Dr. Garba, represented by Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical),  Razaq Akinyemi, said: “The basic challenge remains not only accessing the remaining UBE Intervention Fund, but importantly, the slow utilisation of the Fund with over N250 billion still being retained as unutilised in the coffers of the 36 SUBEBS & FCT-UBEB as at today.”

    UBEC is funded as a first-line charge from the collectable education tax and other sources.

    It is made available to states after their counterpart funding for the development of basic education.

    Lapses identified by the UBEC boss include slow access to the UBE Matching Grant, slow utilisation of the fund, non-compliance with the fund utilisation guidelines, diversion of funds, non-deduction and remittance of taxes, non-compliance with the due process in the award of contracts for the execution of basic education projects, non-adherence to the approved action plan, among others.

    Garba emphasised that UBEC’s goal is to ensure that participants understand and carry out the very crucial responsibility of ensuring that every naira allocated to the UBE programme is accounted for and effectively utilised in ways that add value and have a positive impact on the learning outcomes of the Nigerian child.

    The training is for state officials who are managing the universal basic education to enable them to widen their knowledge and develop better skills.

    Read Also: Matching grant: UBEC reviews quality assurance allocation to five per cent

    It is a three-day event which started yesterday.

    “This edition of the training is thus another critical milestone in our collective pursuit of ensuring transparency, accountability, and prudence in the management of public resources entrusted to us for the delivery of quality basic education.

    “That is why we have carefully ensured that this particular training is expected to cover a range of pertinent areas including the new template for preparing SUBEB Action Plans, Overview of the Nigerian Tax Reforms Act, 2025, financial infractions, violations resulting in audit queries & red flags in the execution of UBE funded projects, Procurement Procedures, and maintenance of financial records, among others,” Dr. Garba said.

    However, it is not all gloom. The UBEC boss highlighted some of the good deeds in recent times.

    “Between January and June, 2025,  N92.4billion being UBE Matching Grant has been accessed by 25 states and FCT,” she said.

    The Commission disbursed N19billion, being the 2023/2024 Teacher Professional Development (TPD) fund, to 32 states & FCT.

    It gave out N1.5billion SBMC School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP) fund to 1,147 communities in the 36 states and FCT.

    “This training, therefore, seeks to equip the fund managers with the skills required for making the necessary changes so as to address the challenge from issues of access, to timely utilisation as well as effective oversight and accountability at the grassroots.”

    UBEC is a federal agency saddled with coordinating all aspects of the UBE programme implementation.

    It was introduced in 1999 as a reform programme aimed at providing greater access to, and ensuring the quality of, basic education.

    Its vision is to be a world-class education intervention and regulatory agency for the promotion of uniform, qualitative and functional basic education in Nigeria.

    Its mission is to operate as an intervention, coordinating and monitoring agency to progressively improve the capacity of states, local government agencies and communities in the provision of unfettered access to high-quality basic education in Nigeria.

  • UBEC: States yet to utilise over N250bn basic education funds

    UBEC: States yet to utilise over N250bn basic education funds

    The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, has raised concerns over the failure of state governments to utilise more than N250 billion in intervention funds disbursed for basic education across the country.

    Speaking on Monday at the opening of a three-day financial management training in Abuja, Garba revealed that the funds remain idle in the accounts of the 36 States’ Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and the Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB).

    The training, themed “Efficient and Effective Management of UBE Intervention Fund, a Key to Successful Basic Education Service Delivery,” was organised for fund managers, Directors of Finance and Accounts, Internal Auditors, and Matching Grant Desk Officers from all SUBEBs.

    Represented by UBEC’s Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Razaq Akinyemi, Garba said the Commission is deeply concerned that despite efforts to ensure equitable access to basic education, many states are yet to fully access or properly utilise the matching grant funds for critical projects.

    She noted that the funds were intended to improve infrastructure and teaching conditions in public schools, but the inability of some states to deploy them effectively continues to hinder progress in the sector.

    “The major challenge is not just accessing the UBE matching grants but the non-utilisation of these funds by states, which affects development in basic education,” she said.

    Garba stressed the importance of prudent financial management, saying the training underscores UBEC’s commitment to strengthening accountability and ensuring that every naira allocated for basic education is used to improve learning outcomes across Nigeria.

    The UBEC boss revealed that between January and June 2025 (6 Months), the sum of N92.4 billion, being UBEC matching grant, has been accessed by 25 States and FCT.

    She further disclosed that the Commission disbursed N19 billion, being the 2023/2024 Teacher Professional Development (TPD) fund, to 32 States and FCT, and N1.5 billion School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP) fund to 1,147 communities in the 36 States and FCT.

    Garba recalled that on her assumption of duty in January 2025, her first official assignment was the supervision of the conduct of 46th Financial Monitoring of the utilisation of the FGN-UBE Intervention Fund in the North Central Region.

    Garba said: “The exercise offered me the opportunity to identify some of the lapses associated with the management of the UBE funds at the State level such as slow access of UBE Matching Grant, slow utilisation of the fund, non- compliance with the fund utilisation guidelines, diversion of fund, non- deduction and remittance of taxes, non-compliance with the due process in the award of contracts for the execution of basic education projects as well as non-adherence to the approved Action Plan, to mention a few.

    “In a bid to address these challenges, which I encountered firsthand, I initiated the review of the Utilisation Guidelines, developed a new template for the preparation of SUBEB Action Plans, and approved various capacity-building activities nationally and internationally for both UBEC and SUBEB personnel.

    “I note with delight that this modest effort, in addition to our continuous engagement for improved practices in this regard, has led to increased access to the UBE fund by States.

    “Accordingly, I am glad to inform this gathering that between January June, 2025 (6 Months), the sum of N92.4b being UBE Matching Grant has been accessed by Twenty-Five (25) States and FCT Furthermore, the Commission disbursed N19b being the 2023/2024 Teacher Professional Development (TPD) fund to Thirty-Two (32) States & FCT and N1.5b SBMC School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP) fund to 1,147 communities in the 36 States and FCT.

    “While the above achievement reflects a significant gain, the basic challenge still remains not only accessing the remaining UBE Intervention Fund, but importantly, the slow utilisation of the Fund with over N250 billion still being retained as unutilised in the coffers of the 36 SUBEBS & FCT-UBEB as at today.

    “This training therefore seeks to equip the fund managers with the skills required for making the necessary changes so as to address the challenge from issues of access, to timely utilisation as well as effective oversight and accountability at the grassroots. As many of you are aware, this training is not the first of its kind.”

    Garba, however, noted that the Commission has, over the years, been consistent in its efforts to strengthen the financial management capacities of SUBEB officials through periodic training and retraining programmes.

    According to her, these engagements have served not only as knowledge-sharing platforms but also as opportunities to align the financial operations of SUBEBs with the UBE mandate and ensure global best practice.

    “This edition of the training is thus another critical milestone in our collective pursuit of ensuring transparency, accountability, and prudence in the management of public resources entrusted to us for the delivery of quality basic education.

    “That is why we have carefully ensured that this particular training is expected to cover a range of pertinent areas including the new template for preparing SUBEB Action Plans, Overview of the Nigerian Tax Reforms Act, 2025, financial infractions, violations resulting in audit queries & red flags in the execution of UBE funded projects, Procurement Procedures, and maintenance of financial records, among others,” she added.

    She reminded the participants that it is not the quantum of funds deployed to states that matters, but rather how efficient and effective the fund managers are in utilising the same for the benefit of the target learners.

    Read Also: Matching grant: UBEC reviews quality assurance allocation to five per cent

    Garba emphasised that the goal of UBEC is to ensure that participants understand and carry out the very crucial responsibility of ensuring that every naira allocated to the UBE programme is accounted for and effectively utilised in ways that add value and have a positive impact on the learning outcomes of the Nigerian child.

    “To this end, I commend the resource persons that have accepted our invitation to lead the sessions and also urge them to be very professional in delivering the training content. I am confident that your wealth of experience and guidance will no doubt enrich the quality of this programme.

    “I also charge all participants to be attentive, engage fully, and take advantage of this opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and network with your counterparts across states,” she stated.

    The Executive Secretary encouraged all participants to approach the training with an open mind, recommit to the principles of transparency, accountability, and excellence in service delivery, while urging them to embrace new perspectives that will improve our performance as UBE fund managers, going forward.

  • Matching grant: UBEC reviews quality assurance allocation to five per cent

    Matching grant: UBEC reviews quality assurance allocation to five per cent

    The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has announced an increase in the allocation for quality assurance from two per cent to five per cent of the Matching Grant provided to states.

    The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, made this known at a three-day refresher training held in Abuja yesterday for Zonal Directors, Quality Assurance Officers, and Directors of Quality Assurance from the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    Garba said the increase reflects the commission’s determination to match policy with tangible resource backing.

    She underscored the vital role quality assurance play in improving Nigeria’s basic education system and stated that the training aimed to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of data-driven decision-making while aligning with emerging educational standards.

    “This meeting presents a critical opportunity to sharpen our skills, reinforce collaboration, and align our actions with national priorities.

    “As quality assurance officers, your role is central to our collective success,” she said.

    Garba also introduced a new Basic Education Action Plan (BEAP) template, designed to enhance planning, monitoring, and reporting systems across all tiers of basic education.

    According to Garba, the new template is expected to foster more focused and impactful interventions.

    Speaking at the event, UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Mr. Rasaq Akinyemi, reiterated the importance of quality assurance in strengthening the education system and commended participants for their commitment.

    He said the training would equip them with modern tools and strategies to raise educational standards nationwide.

    Read Also: LASUBEB, UBEC trains 1,250 teachers in jolly phonics

    Director of Quality Assurance at UBEC, Mrs. Ada Ogwuche, described the training as essential in today’s dynamic educational environment.

    She stressed that quality assurance should be seen as a continuous internal commitment and part of institutional culture, driven by well-equipped evaluators.

    “Quality assurance is not just a one-time event or an external requirement.

    “It is a continuous internal commitment. It is a culture, and central to this culture is the capacity of our evaluators,” she said.

    In his remarks, Mr. Dele Owolabi, Director of Quality Assurance at Ekiti SUBEB and Dean of SUBEB/UBEB Directors, encouraged teamwork and active engagement to ensure participants get the most from the training.

    “Through this meeting, we are not only enhancing our expertise but also strengthening the foundation of our educational system, one that nurtures minds, builds vision, and drives national development,” he said.

  • Delta Exco approves multi-billion road projects, N6.7bn UBEC counterpart fund

    Delta Exco approves multi-billion road projects, N6.7bn UBEC counterpart fund

    The Delta State Executive Council has approved series of multi-billion naira road construction and rehabilitation projects aimed at improving infrastructure and boosting economic activities across the State.

    The council also approved the release of N6.7 billion as the state’s counterpart funding to access the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) grant for educational development.

    The approvals, which were announced at the end of the State Exco meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in Asaba, are part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to enhance road connectivity in urban and rural communities, while also strengthening the basic education sector.

    The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, told journalists that the road projects cut across the three senatorial districts and include both new constructions and major rehabilitations, with a focus on economic viability, accessibility, and long-term durability.

    Flanked by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, Aniagwu said Exco approved significant investments in road infrastructure to accelerate economic activities and improve the quality of life.

    He stated that the N6.7 billion Universal Basic Education counterpart funding would enable the state to draw matching grants for the construction, renovation, and equipping of public schools.

    He emphasised that the dual focus on roads and education aligns with Governor Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E. Agenda, which prioritizes infrastructural renewal and human capital development.

    “There were a lot of considerations at today’s Exco meeting, ranging from road construction to improvements in our education sector. There are some communities today where we had the opportunity to approve and appointment of royal fathers,” Aniagwu said.

    He listed approved projects as follows: “Reconstruction of failed sections of the Uzere–Asaba-Ase Road, Aboh–Akarai concrete road with a 100m bridge across the Okiri River in Ndokwa East, Eku–Osubi Road, Okpanam–Ugbolu Road.

    “For the sake of fluctuations, we have reviewed upwards some contracts awarded during the last administration. These include the Ejeme-Aniogor–Obidugbo–Ekuku-Agbor Road Phase 1, Ajuebor and Uwaezueka Streets in Boji-Boji Owa, Amai–Aragba Road with 40 per cent mobilisation, and Idheze Internal Roads Phases 1 and 2.

    “Others approved are the Ovrode–Aradhe Road Phase 1, Amaka/Ogodogo/Ivu Access Road in Okpolo-Enhwe, Atuma-Iga Internal Roads, the construction of Arho Road by Heroes of Faith, Ughelli, and the repudiation and re-award of Imohwe Street, Ekiugbo, to connect Oteri and Iwremaro Town Phase 1. Also approved are the rehabilitation/asphalt overlay of Olu Palace Road/Ugbori/Ekurede-Itsekiri Road, and the construction of Orugboh Roads in Warri South.

    “Additional approvals include the rehabilitation/asphalt overlay of the Ekpan/Oviorie/Ovu-Inland/Okpara-Inland/Isiokolo/Kokori Road in Ethiope East LGA, the Bulu-Angiama Road in Patani LGA, Overflow Avenue in Amukpe, Torugbene Internal Roads, and an upward review of the new tankers’ park at Niger Cat, Ekpan. Also approved are the Mereje–Ekokor–Erogbo Road Phase 1, the construction of the Delta State House of Assembly’s Cooperative Estate Road, Okpanam, and Chief Wellington Oyibo Community Road in Mosogar.”

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    Speaking further, he said; “Exco also approved the supply and installation of workshop tools and equipment at Omadino Technical College and Model Technical College, Oghara-Efe; the construction of an administrative block, hostels, dining and kitchen, mechanical and welding workshops at the new Model Technical College, Akugbene; a review of the contract sum for the new Model Technical College, Irri; the construction of a 12-terrace building at the Permanent Secretaries’ Quarters, Asaba; and the concessioning of the Issele-Uku Garment Facility/Skill Acquisition Centre.

    “The Exco approved the extension of electricity supply and installation of six transformers at Orugbo, Ode-Itsekiri, Ajigba, Inorin, Usele, and Ugbodede communities, all in Warri South Local Government Area.

    “We also approved the appointment of several traditional rulers, including Obi Michael Ogochukwu Osemedua Isichei as the Obi of Ubulu-Okiti; HRM Obi Cletus Nkeakam Ochei as the Obi of Ukwu-Oba Kingdom; HRM Okorocha Emoghene Osuokpa I as the 39th Okpara-Uku of Orogun Kingdom; HRM Obi Ikechukwu Chukwuemeka Ugboma as the Obi of Issele-Azagba Kingdom; HRM Patrick Okpomor Agre as the Ovie of Igbide Kingdom; and HRM Michael Avwerotakpo Eyareya (Eyareya II) as the Orovworere of Effurun-Otor Kingdom.”

    Aniagwu added that Governor Oborevwori had directed the Ministries of Primary and Secondary Education to carry out investigations into the buildings and furniture needed to improve the primary and secondary education sectors in the state.