The plan was outlined during a two-day strategic retreat organized by UBEC for its senior management and state-level counterparts. Held in Kano, the retreat served as a platform to align key stakeholders on reform priorities and operational strategies necessary to achieve the Commission’s mandate.
UBEC Executive Secretary, Hajiya Aisha Garba, who assumed office six months ago, emphasized that the retreat was an opportunity to reflect on progress made so far and to sharpen focus on the tasks ahead. “The main objective of this retreat is for us to take stock of what we have done in the last six months and to identify key deliverables for the next year,” she said.
She stressed the importance of teamwork and intergovernmental collaboration, noting that “our goal is to ensure 100% access to basic education, reduce the number of out-of-school children, and improve the quality of learning outcomes in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Presidency and the strategic direction of the Minister of Education.”
Hajiya Garba reiterated her commitment to overhauling UBEC’s operations, aligning with national education priorities, and fostering partnerships with State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) for more effective implementation at the grassroots.
Speaking in the same vein, UBEC’s Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Razaq Akinyemi, highlighted the Commission’s progress in improving learning conditions and teacher competence. He pointed to the implementation of the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme as a key intervention, alongside significant investments in educational infrastructure.
According to Akinyemi, over 3,700 new classrooms have been built nationwide, 34 Model and SMART Schools have been established, and more than 142,000 furniture units have been distributed. These efforts, he said, have directly impacted the learning environment of over 181,000 children.
Kano State’s SUBEB Executive Secretary, Kabir Yusuf, praised UBEC’s leadership for choosing Kano to host the pivotal retreat. He acknowledged the state government’s efforts to revitalize basic education, citing the provision of free school uniforms and learning materials, as well as extensive classroom renovations.
Yusuf also disclosed that the Kano State Government had approved N39 million for the training of 400 quality assurance officers, N35 million for school-based teacher training, and N5 million for mobilizing nomadic communities to enroll their children in school.
As Nigeria grapples with one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, UBEC’s renewed commitment and structured approach could signal a turning point—if matched by sustained funding, political will, and cross-sectoral support. The next three years will be critical in determining whether this bold vision can translate into measurable outcomes for millions of Nigerian children.