Abuja: Dr Aisha Garba, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), announced that approximately 8.7 million learners and 244,000 teachers have benefited from the commission’s reform initiatives nationwide. She made this disclosure during the 29th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) held in Abuja. The event focused on the theme ‘Accelerating Basic Education Performance Through Digitally Enabled Coordination.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Garba highlighted that the commission has improved learning conditions and provided instructional materials to a substantial number of learners, alongside training teachers in inclusive pedagogy and digital literacy. These efforts are part of the 2025-2031 Strategic Blueprint, aimed at enhancing education delivery across the nation.
Garba emphasized that UBEC has evolved from merely a funding body to a system enabler, focusing on alignment and accountability for measurable impact. The shift in focus during 2025 from identifying challenges to implementing comprehensive reforms has resulted in significant achievements, including equipping over 244,000 teachers with necessary skills and benefiting millions of learners.
The executive secretary also reported that data-driven advocacy has enabled UBEC to unlock over N100 billion in previously inaccessible matching grants. This financial boost is currently being utilized by 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for basic education. Revised guidelines for matching grants have been established to ensure transparency and effective use of resources.
Furthermore, Garba mentioned that the digitization of public schools is central to UBEC’s reform agenda. This initiative, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, has expanded digital learning access, strengthened teachers’ digital capabilities, and improved classroom instruction through interactive content. She urged SUBEB chairmen to adopt digital systems to enhance accountability and learning outcomes.
Kwara SUBEB Chairman, Shehu Adaramaja, also spoke at the event, stressing the importance of digital tools in strengthening coordination and policy implementation within Nigeria’s basic education sector. He warned against fragmented communication that could undermine well-designed policies.
UNICEF Education Manager, Jutaro Sakamoto, called for continued training of teachers to ensure optimal performance and pledged UNICEF’s support to the country’s universal basic education sub-sector.