UBEC Boss Reaffirms Commitment To Removing Barriers To Girls’ Education

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Aisha Garba, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to removing barriers to girls’ education and ensuring that every Nigerian girl has access to quality basic education.

Dr Garba gave the assurance at the national flag-off of the distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and back-to-school learning materials to girls in public basic education schools across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The initiative, tagged “Flow with Confidence 2.0: Keeping Every Girl in School”, was launched at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of activities commemorating the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.

Speaking at the ceremony, the UBEC Executive Secretary described the intervention as a practical response to the challenges preventing girls, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, from attending school regularly and participating fully in the learning process.

She stressed that the inability to afford sanitary products should never force a girl to miss school or compromise her dignity, noting that addressing such challenges was essential to improving school attendance, learner retention and educational outcomes.

“Our message is clear: no girl child should have to choose between her dignity and her education,” Dr Garba said.

She added that the initiative reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the challenges confronting girls’ education in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“This programme reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that the barriers to girls’ education are adequately addressed in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which prioritises the education and well-being of every Nigerian child as an essential pillar of national development,” she said.

Dr Garba commended the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, for their commitment to advancing girls’ education and supporting the education priorities of the Tinubu administration.

She particularly commended the First Lady for flagging off the national distribution of two million packs of sanitary towels and back-to-school learning materials to girls in public basic education schools nationwide.

According to her, Flow with Confidence 2.0 goes beyond the distribution of sanitary towels and learning materials, representing a strategic investment in the confidence, educational attainment and future prospects of Nigerian girls.

She noted that the initiative aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises education and human capital development as essential drivers of national progress.