The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has announced that it successfully facilitated the release of more than ₦100 billion in previously unaccessed matching grants for states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), marking a major boost for basic education development across Nigeria.
UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a media luncheon with members of the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN), where she highlighted the Commission’s achievements under its ongoing reform agenda.
Garba described the recovery of the funds as a significant milestone aimed at improving the quality of education nationwide, explaining that the grants are now being invested in upgrading public basic schools across the country.
She said one of UBEC’s most notable accomplishments has been facilitating access to over ₦100 billion in previously unclaimed matching grants by states and the FCT, with the funds now being deployed to enhance learning environments in public schools.
According to her, UBEC, in collaboration with the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), has delivered substantial infrastructure and learning improvements across the country.
She revealed that the Commission has constructed more than 4,600 classrooms, renovated over 6,100 classrooms, built 2,780 toilet facilities, drilled 678 boreholes, and supplied more than 334,000 pieces of school furniture to public basic schools nationwide.
Garba further disclosed that UBEC has established over 2,300 Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE) Centres to strengthen early childhood education and improve foundational learning for young children.
On teacher development, she stated that the Commission has invested more than ₦20.4 billion in professional training programmes designed to improve classroom instruction, strengthen school leadership, and enhance accountability through the Effective Schools Programme and School-Based Management Committees.
Speaking on technology integration in education, the UBEC boss said the Commission is expanding Digital Literacy Centres, strengthening Smart Schools, and promoting the teaching of Artificial Intelligence (AI), coding, and robotics to prepare Nigerian students for a technology-driven future.
She also disclosed that over 7.8 million instructional materials have been distributed across the country to improve literacy, numeracy, and foundational learning outcomes.
"As education continues to evolve, our schools must evolve as well," Garba said, noting that UBEC remains committed to modernising digital learning facilities and equipping learners with skills needed to thrive in the digital economy.
She added that the Commission is broadening access to education through initiatives such as Open Schooling, Integrated Qur’anic and Tsangaya Education, girl-child education, and inclusive education programmes, while strengthening partnerships with state governments, development partners, and the private sector.
Garba also highlighted institutional reforms introduced by the Commission, saying they have improved transparency, strengthened project monitoring, and promoted data-driven decision-making to ensure greater accountability and value for public investments.
She described the media as a critical stakeholder in promoting transparency and public confidence in the education sector, calling for sustained collaboration with journalists.
According to her, education is a shared responsibility that requires the collective commitment of government, communities, teachers, parents, development partners, and the media to ensure every Nigerian child has access to safe, inclusive, equitable, and quality basic education.
Also speaking, ECAN Chairman, Mr. Chuks Ukwuatu, called for stronger institutional collaboration between the association and UBEC. He urged the Commission to improve journalists' access to information, project sites, logistical support, and capacity-building opportunities to enhance education reporting nationwide.
Ukwuatu described the engagement as an important step in strengthening cooperation, reaffirming the commitment of education correspondents to promoting UBEC's programmes, policies, and interventions while encouraging informed public discussions on basic education.
Similarly, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Ms. Grace Ike, commended UBEC for maintaining regular engagement with the media, describing education as the cornerstone of national development.
She stressed that government agencies should maintain consistent relationships with journalists beyond periods of crisis, noting that regular engagement promotes transparency, accountability, and accurate dissemination of information.
Ike advocated periodic media briefings, specialised training and retraining for education correspondents, international exposure opportunities, organised tours of UBEC-funded projects, improved access to schools and education officials, greater transparency in project implementation and procurement processes, as well as support for investigative journalism through fellowships and media grants.
She noted that equipping journalists with timely data and deeper understanding of education policies would strengthen ethical journalism and improve public awareness of government interventions.
Ike expressed confidence that sustained collaboration between UBEC and education correspondents would lead to more balanced, accurate, and impactful reporting on Nigeria's basic education sector.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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