As part of renewed efforts to enhance basic education and lower the number of children who are not in school, the Universal Basic Education Commission, or UBEC, has distributed more than N5 billion to communities throughout Nigeria.
The announcement was made at the 2025 School-Based Management Committee School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP) national flag-off in Abuja.
UBEC Executive Secretary Aisha Garba spoke at the event and stated that the intervention is part of a larger plan to improve school systems and guarantee that kids stay in classrooms.
This signifies a renewed national commitment to enhancing learning environments nationwide and bolstering community involvement in school governance, she said.
Garba revealed that N5.18 billion has been set aside for the program, which is aimed at 518 communities across the country. Selected schools will benefit each state as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking on behalf of Rasaq Olajuwon Akinyemi, Deputy Executive Secretary Technical, she clarified that the money would be used to repair damaged school buildings, supply classroom furniture, and enhance water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
She emphasized that retention is still a big issue in the education sector, even after enrollment.
While access to education is crucial, retention is what guarantees that the promise of education is realized. The issues that prevent kids from attending school must be addressed, she continued.
The program also entails the completion of ongoing projects from earlier cycles and the release of additional funds to support their execution, according to the UBEC boss.
She claims that the program’s earlier stages have helped more than 1,100 schools and resulted in thousands of community interventions.
The commission anticipates that the program will assist a sizable number of kids in returning to school, she continued.
Speaking as well, Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, said the initiative is essential to continued reforms in the field.
The government’s commitment to guaranteeing that every child of school age is enrolled, retained, and able to finish basic education is reaffirmed by these initiatives, he said.
The program is in line with national education policies and initiatives to increase access to education, according to the minister, who was represented by Folake Olatunji-David, Director of Basic Education.
Additionally, he urged community leaders and state education boards, among other stakeholders, to guarantee accountability in the use of funds.
The event’s attendees emphasized the necessity of ongoing cooperation to guarantee that educational interventions result in quantifiable gains in classrooms across the nation.
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