By Onyeanya Ebere
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has urged state governments to take concrete steps toward meeting the requirements necessary to access matching grant funds earmarked for the development of basic education across the country.
This call was part of the resolutions reached at the 26th quarterly meeting of UBEC management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), which continued on Tuesday at the Government House, Makurdi, Benue State.
Speaking at the meeting, UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, emphasized that the gathering was more than a routine engagement.
She described it as a call to action aimed at dismantling barriers that prevent states from accessing available resources. According to her, simplifying administrative processes is critical to unlocking the much-needed funds that will positively impact millions of Nigerian schoolchildren.
Also addressing the forum, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, represented by the Deputy Director of Basic Education, Joy Onoja, announced that significant progress had been made since the last quarterly meeting. He disclosed the launch of a $500 million loan-aid programme designed to support the education of millions of Nigerian children, aligned with the planned review of the Universal Basic Education Act, 2024.
Dr. Alausa reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to making quality basic education a fundamental right for every child.
He stressed the importance of strategic partnerships and innovative solutions in transforming Nigeria’s education landscape.
Dr. Garba also pointed to the theme of the meeting, “Unassessed and Unutilised UBEC Matching Grant: The Nigerian Child at the Receiving End,” as a challenge to stakeholders. She noted that delays in grant assessments and the under-utilisation of available funds are directly detrimental to the educational advancement of Nigerian children.
She called on state governments to demonstrate greater accountability and urgency, warning that failure to access and utilize available grants means the nation’s children ultimately bear the cost.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment among stakeholders to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure that funds meant for education are accessed and used effectively to benefit Nigerian pupils.
