UBEC Boss Urges Stronger Investment, Effective Use Of Education Funds

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, has identified Delta State’s technology driven teacher attendance system as an innovation that could offer valuable lessons to states across Nigeria in strengthening accountability and improving learning outcomes.

Garba said the Attend360 platform, which monitors teacher attendance, demonstrates how technology can address one of the most fundamental requirements for effective education, ensuring that teachers are present and actively engaged in the classroom.

According to a press statement issued by Ikharo Attah, special adviser media and communications to the Minister of education, the executive secretary spoke during a courtesy visit to the Delta State Government, represented by Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme.

The visit was part of activities marking the 30th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) in Asaba.

Garba said Delta was selected to host the meeting because of the progress recorded in its education sector, particularly its use of technology to improve school management, teacher attendance and accountability.

The meeting, themed “Repositioning Basic Education in Nigeria to Optimise Investment and Impact”, brought UBEC management and SUBEB chairmen from across the country to Delta State to examine how investment, innovation and effective implementation can deliver greater impact in basic education.

She commended the state for its record in accessing UBE matching grants, noting that Delta had accessed its matching grant up to 2025 and was among the states setting the pace in basic education.

“There is no education or quality learning without a good teacher or without a teacher in the classroom. You can build as many schools as you want, but as long as there is no teacher, and a good teacher, in the classroom, learning will not take place,” she said.

She, however, urged the state to ensure that available UBEC funds are fully utilised and approved programmes implemented promptly, stressing that investment in education must ultimately translate into better facilities, stronger teaching and improved learning outcomes.

Garba also encouraged Delta to position itself to benefit from the education component of the HOPE Education Programme, a World Bank-supported intervention with up to $500 million earmarked for education.

She explained that one of the key requirements for participating states is to access the 2026 matching grant and implement at least 50 per cent of the 2025 Action Plan. She urged Delta to sustain its investment, utilise available resources and take advantage of UBEC’s technical support.

Responding to the issues raised by the Executive Secretary, Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme assured UBEC that Delta would continue to improve its education system and make quality education accessible to more citizens.

Onyeme clarified that updated records showed that Delta had about N1 billion in unutilised funds, rather than N8 billion, as earlier referenced. He also disclosed that the state had implemented about 90 per cent of its 2025 Action Plan and had already received its 2026 matching grant.

Describing education as one of Delta’s major areas of investment, the Deputy Governor pledged that the state would continue to improve its performance.

“We will continue to improve and do our best to ensure that we give education to as many citizens as possible,” he said.

The conversation on strengthening basic education continued during a separate courtesy visit to the Asagba of Asaba, HRM Prof. Epiphany Azinge, where Garba highlighted the importance of traditional institutions and other stakeholders in advancing the national education agenda.

She said UBEC’s goal was to ensure that every Nigerian child, regardless of location, circumstance or family background, has the opportunity to receive quality basic education.

“Our goal is to ensure that every Nigerian child, regardless of their circumstances or where they live, whether they come from a poor family or a rich family, must have the opportunity to receive quality basic education,” she said.

Garba also acknowledged the Asagba’s support for education initiatives in Delta, including efforts around smart schools, and called for stronger collaboration among traditional institutions, government and education agencies.

Responding to the Executive Secretary, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof Epiphany Azinge, described basic education as the foundation on which the future of Nigeria is built, stressing that it is at this stage that children are nurtured, trained and prepared for the challenges ahead.

He emphasised the importance of quality teachers in primary schools, noting that the quality of teachers ultimately determines the quality of people produced by the education system.

“If you have quality teachers, you produce quality people,” he said.

Azinge urged UBEC and the SUBEB chairmen to confront the challenges facing basic education honestly and develop robust, practical solutions.

He stressed that no child should be left behind, including children with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, insisting that every Nigerian child deserves access to basic education.