WorldStage— The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, has urged states to urgently access over ₦65 billion in counterpart funds and utilise approximately ₦267 billion in previously released intervention funds, stressing that education resources must translate into tangible improvements in schools and measurable outcomes for Nigerian children.
Garba gave the charge in Asaba, Delta State, at the opening of the 30th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with Executive Chairmen of the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), themed “Repositioning Basic Education in Nigeria to Optimise Investment and Impact.”
She disclosed that states had accessed over ₦177 billion in UBE Matching Grants, while more than ₦65 billion in counterpart funding remained unaccessed and approximately ₦267 billion in previously released intervention funds remained unutilised across the states.
She said the figures underscored the need for states to move beyond accessing resources to ensuring that available funds are properly planned, implemented, monitored and converted into measurable results.
Garba urged states to strengthen collaboration with the private sector, development partners and civil society organisations, noting that the scale and complexity of the challenges confronting basic education required broader and more sustainable financing partnerships.
She also announced the commencement of the review of UBEC’s Ten-Year Strategic Roadmap, which is being extended to cover 2026–2035, saying the revised framework would align investments, strengthen implementation and respond to the changing needs of the basic education sector.
According to her, the HOPE-EDU Operation presents an opportunity to strengthen the systems, institutions and capacity required to deliver sustainable improvements in basic education.
She therefore urged states to ensure full readiness to participate and maximise the opportunities provided by the initiative.
The Executive Secretary further disclosed that UBEC had developed the Basic Education Action Plan Management System (BEAP-MS) to transform the preparation and submission of state action plans from a largely manual process into a fully digitised system.
She said the platform would improve coordination between UBEC and the states, enhance efficiency and reduce the need for repeated physical engagements at the Commission’s headquarters.
