UBEC unlocks N100bn funds, reaches 8.7m learners in one year
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) says its interventions have reached over 8.7 million learners across Nigeria within one year, following the unlocking of more than N100bn in previously unaccessed funds. The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the commission’s 29th quarterly meeting with State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), themed “Accelerating Basic Education Performance Through Digitally-Enabled Coordination.” Garba said the achievement was driven by joint interventions with SUBEBs, improved funding access, and a growing shift toward digital systems in education planning and delivery. She said, “In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda and through joint interventions by SUBEBs and UBEC, we have impacted more than 8.7 million learners within just one year.” According to her, beneficiaries include pupils who received instructional materials, improved learning environments, water and sanitation facilities, and furniture, as well as about 500,000 teachers who underwent training. She added that over 95% of projects planned within the period have been completed, describing it as evidence of improved efficiency in implementation. Garba also revealed that more than N100bn in funds previously unaccessed by SUBEBs have now been deployed, with over 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory actively accessing and using the resources. A key focus of the reforms, she said, is digitalisation, which will soon extend to the full management of basic education planning and execution. She explained that from 2026, states’ education action plans would be fully digitised to improve transparency, accountability, and real-time monitoring of education needs across the country. However, she raised concerns about persistent infrastructure gaps in schools, including overcrowded classrooms and poor sanitation facilities. “We have seen schools with over 5,000 students and fewer than 10 toilets. That is not acceptable. There must be minimum standards,” she said. Stakeholders at the meeting acknowledged progress but noted challenges such as weak infrastructure, electricity shortages, and varying levels of readiness across states for full digital adoption. Chairman of SUBEB in Kwara State, Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, said while the digital reform agenda is ambitious, its success will depend on practical implementation and coordination across states. He stressed that technology alone is not enough, adding that alignment between systems and stakeholders is key to meaningful reform. Despite ongoing reforms, Nigeria’s basic education sector continues to face long-standing challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, uneven teacher distribution, and funding delays between the federal and state levels.
Arun
Apr 21, 2026
