ASABA — The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has raised concerns over the non-utilisation of more than ₦332 billion in basic education funds by states, urging State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) to translate government investments into measurable learning outcomes.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, disclosed this in Asaba, Delta State, during the opening of the 30th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with Executive Chairmen of SUBEBs.
The four-day meeting, themed “Repositioning Basic Education in Nigeria to Optimise Investment and Impact,” brings together key stakeholders to deliberate on improving access, quality, accountability and learning outcomes in Nigeria’s basic education sector.
Garba said states had fully accessed more than ₦177 billion in Universal Basic Education (UBE) Matching Grants, but noted that over ₦65 billion in counterpart funding and about ₦267 billion in previously released intervention funds remained unutilised.
“Accessing funds is only part of the responsibility before us. These resources cannot improve education while they remain in accounts,” she said.
According to her, the scale of challenges confronting basic education requires governments to look beyond traditional sources of funding and strengthen partnerships with the private sector and development partners.
The UBEC boss also announced plans to review the commission’s Ten-Year Strategic Roadmap for 2026–2035, alongside the rollout of the Basic Education Action Plan Management System (BEAP-MS) to digitise state-level planning.
She further highlighted the HOPE-EDU Operation, supported by a World Bank loan of more than US$500 million, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s education system.
Garba also identified the Whole School Approach and the National Learning Assessment, conducted in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, as important tools for developing evidence-based interventions.
Delta: Over 302,000 Pupils Benefit From Interventions
Declaring the meeting open, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, said education remained central to his administration’s MORE Agenda, stressing that the impact of investments in basic education must ultimately be measured by improvements in learning and opportunities for children.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, said more than 302,000 pupils were enrolled in Delta’s public basic schools, with over 187,000 learners, representing 62 per cent, benefiting directly from various interventions.
He said the state, in collaboration with the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (D-SUBEB), had constructed 174 classrooms, renovated 815 others and commenced construction of 24 additional classrooms.
Other projects, according to him, include 39 perimeter fences and gatehouses, 230 VIP toilets and 12 solar-powered boreholes designed to provide safer and healthier learning environments.
At the SMART School in Orogun, the governor said hostels, refectory blocks and staff quarters had been completed to support technology-driven learning.
Oborevwori disclosed that he had earlier approved the state’s 2026 UBEC counterpart fund after fulfilling its 2025 obligation, stressing that no investment was too great when it concerned the future of Nigerian children.
“The true measure of investment in education lies not in what we spend, but in the quality of learning we deliver, the opportunities we create, and the future we secure for our children,” he said.
The governor also commended UBEC for approving two additional Model Smart Schools for Delta State, noting that the state government had provided the required land.
Beyond SUBEB interventions, Oborevwori said the state had provided more than 200 classrooms and 15,000 units of furniture through the Ministries of Primary and Secondary Education, while new Government Technical Colleges with modern workshops were being developed to equip young people with practical skills.
Delta Trains 5,500 Teachers
On teacher development, the governor said more than 5,500 teachers had been trained in Jolly Phonics, STEP, SMASE and School-Based Training, while 53 community tutors had been deployed to underserved areas.
He added that all 16 professional development programmes planned for 2026 had been implemented.
Oborevwori also disclosed that the state had approved career progression for teachers from Grade Level 14 to Grade Level 17, describing teacher recruitment, welfare, motivation and professional development as priorities.
“No education system can rise above the quality of its teachers,” the governor said.
SUBEB Chairman Seeks Greater Use of Technology
The host Chairman of D-SUBEB, Hon. Samuel Mariere, said Delta’s hosting of the meeting reflected the importance attached to basic education by the state government.
Mariere commended UBEC for its partnership and Governor Oborevwori for creating what he described as an enabling environment for reforms in the sector.
He also praised the governor’s deployment of SMART Board technology and digital monitoring systems to address teacher absenteeism in public basic schools.
“Technology can be deployed not merely as a learning tool but also as an instrument for improving accountability and institutional effectiveness,” Mariere said.
He also commended the governor’s wife, Mrs. Tobore Oborevwori, for her interventions for vulnerable children, stressing that the success of an education system should also be measured by how effectively it reaches disadvantaged learners.
Asagba: Education Is Nigeria’s Greatest Investment
The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Obi Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, described education as the greatest investment any nation could make.
He argued that Nigeria’s greatest wealth lies in the knowledge and abilities of its citizens, rather than solely in its natural resources.
The monarch identified quality teachers, technology, community ownership and accountability as four critical pillars for transforming basic education.
Azinge said his palace had evolved from traditional rulership to what he described as traditional governance, including visits to schools and the provision of learning aids and furniture.
He disclosed that the palace was also constructing a SMART School, which would be donated to the Delta State Government upon completion.
He stressed that the effectiveness of an education system should not be judged only by how well it serves privileged children, but by its ability to reach the most vulnerable.
Other stakeholders at the meeting called for greater accountability, innovation and collaboration among UBEC, SUBEBs, development partners, traditional institutions and other actors in the education sector.
They urged stakeholders to openly identify challenges confronting basic education, share successful interventions and strengthen partnerships capable of producing sustainable improvements.
The meeting continues with technical sessions focusing on planning, resource utilisation, digital transformation, accountability and strategies for expanding access to safe and inclusive basic education across Nigeria.
The opening ceremony also featured cultural and musical performances.
