UBEC unlocks N100bn funds, reaches 8.7m learners in one year

The Universal Basic Education Commission has announced that its interventions have reached more than 8.7 million learners nationwide within a year.

UBEC also disclosed that over N100bn in previously unaccessed funds have now been unlocked, with more than 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory actively drawing on these resources.

The commission reiterated its commitment to transforming basic education through digital innovation and improved coordination with state education boards.

The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during the commission’s 29th quarterly meeting with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards.

The meeting was themed ‘Accelerating Basic Education Performance Through Digitally-Enabled Coordination.’

Garba revealed, “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.

“These are students who have benefited from the instructional materials distributed, the improvement in learning conditions, the wash facilities, the furniture, as well as almost 500,000 teachers who have been trained.”

The ES noted that the achievement reflects a shift from routine administration to more coordinated and large-scale reforms in the sector.

“Over the past year, we have entered a decisive phase in the evolution of universal basic education in Nigeria.

“Throughout 2025, you must agree with me when I said the focus has shifted from business as usual in basic education to a more systematic, coordinated, and large-scale reform nationwide,” she said.

Garba added that improved funding access and collaboration with states have strengthened implementation, with more states now utilising education funds.

“We have unlocked over N100bn that was previously unaccessed by SUBEBs. Now over 30 states and FCT are actively drawing from and using the fund more actively and effectively,” Garba stated.

Highlighting improvements in project delivery, Garba said, “Within just 2025, already 95 per cent of the projects have been completed. This shows timely delivery of interventions.”

The UBEC boss also underscored the role of digitalisation in driving reforms, particularly in planning and accountability.

“One important aspect that is also in line with the theme of this quarterly meeting is digitalisation. Digitalisation has remained central to all these reforms. And when we talk about digitalisation, we are not just talking about the classroom.

“We are not talking about the tool that a student or a teacher uses. We are talking about digitalisation in the reform, which is the management and the process of basic education,” she said.

According to her, from 2026, basic education action plans will be fully digitised to improve efficiency and transparency.

Garba stressed that the new system would allow stakeholders and development partners to access real-time data on states’ needs.

The UBEC boss also raised concerns about inadequate infrastructure in schools, citing instances of overcrowded facilities with insufficient sanitation.

“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.

In his remarks, Chairman of SUBEB in Kwara State and Dean of SUBEB Chairmen, Professor Shehu Adaramaja, acknowledged the ambition of the digital reform agenda but cautioned about practical challenges.

“When you begin to think through what it requires, it becomes less tidy.

“You start to see practical questions about readiness, infrastructure gaps, capacity issues, and even electricity problems,” Adaramaja explained.

He stressed that while digital tools are essential, their success depends on proper alignment and adoption.

“Technology on its own does not resolve coordination. The real task is not just adoption but alignment,” he said.

Adaramaja noted that improved digital systems would enhance transparency and accountability across states.

“We now know how many classrooms were constructed, how many teachers were trained, and how funds were utilised,” he said.

He urged states to learn from one another, adding, “If one state is doing it right using digital platforms, others should be able to copy. That is the essence of coordination.”

Also speaking, UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Rasaq Akinyemi, said the commission would focus on consolidating gains and improving coordination.

Nigeria’s basic education sector continues to face challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, uneven teacher distribution, and gaps in learning resources across states.

Despite ongoing reforms, implementation has often been affected by funding delays and coordination issues between federal and state education bodies.