More than 8.7 million learners across Nigeria have benefited from interventions by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in the past year, as over 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory accessed previously unutilised education funds. UBEC Executive Secretary Aisha Garba disclosed in Abuja on Tuesday that over N100 billion had been unlocked and deployed toward instructional materials, classroom improvements, furniture, sanitation facilities, and training for nearly 500,000 teachers. The announcement was made during UBEC's 29th quarterly meeting with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs). Garba attributed the progress to stronger collaboration between UBEC and SUBEBs, aligning with the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda.
Garba noted that about 95 per cent of projects initiated in 2025 were already completed, reflecting improved efficiency. She highlighted the commission's shift from administrative routines to large-scale reforms, with digitalisation now central to planning, management, and accountability in basic education. From 2026, all basic education action plans will be fully digitised for real-time data access by stakeholders. Despite gains, Garba pointed to persistent infrastructure deficits, including schools with over 5,000 students sharing fewer than 10 toilets. Shehu Adaramaja, Chairman of SUBEB in Kwara State and Dean of SUBEB Chairmen, acknowledged the promise of digital systems but cited challenges like poor infrastructure, limited capacity, and unstable electricity supply. UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) Rasaq Akinyemi said the focus would be on consolidating gains and strengthening stakeholder coordination.
Aisha Garba celebrates 8.7 million learners benefiting from UBEC interventions while acknowledging schools with over 5,000 students and fewer than 10 toilets—exposing a gap between headline figures and ground reality. The claim of nearly 500,000 teachers trained and N100 billion unlocked offers little comfort to pupils in those overcrowded schools still lacking basic sanitation. Digital reforms set for 2026 appear distant when current infrastructure fails to meet minimum standards. For students in schools with one toilet for hundreds, the so-called transformation remains a numbers game.
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