Gom Mirian
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, has expressed concern over Nigeria’s capacity to provide for the educational needs of over 45 million children enrolled in its basic education subsector amidst serious funding crisis.
He, therefore, called for private sector assistance in bridging the funding gap.
Speaking during a one-day meeting on Promoting Partnership with the Organised Private Sector held in Abuja, on Monday, Dr. Bobboyi noted that despite the allocation of over N100 billion to education annually, the resources from the federal government are no longer sufficient to sustain the growing number of children seeking education.
The surge in enrolment can be attributed to the welcomed increasing awareness and importance of education among Nigerian families, which, however, presents a significant challenge for the government as it struggles to meet the financial demands posed by the rapid growth in the sector.
He stressed the urgent need to seek private sector collaboration, saying such partnership would bridge the funding gap and ensure the sustainability of quality education for all Nigerian children.
“Resources alone from the federal government cannot run the system. Nigeria has over 45 million children in the basic education subsector and with this number, we require the necessary classrooms,” he emphasised, adding that “a state may get a maximum of maybe N3 billion in the best times, but N3 billion cannot take care of these. It needs instructional materials, you need a lot of other things.”
Speaking at the event, the Head of Oando Foundation, Mrs. Adegoke Adekanla, represented by an official of the foundation, Mr. Ede Okechukwu, assured of her organisation’s commitment, which she said aligns with the broader initiative to strengthen the appearance UBEC programme through collaborative partnerships between the public and private sectors.
According to her, “The involvement of the private sector, as emphasised by UBEC, is instrumental in enhancing the pool of resources for UBE implementation. This collaboration is not only an acknowledgement of the unique strengths and capabilities that non-state actors bring to the table but also a testament to the recognition that effective partnerships are indispensable for achieving better results in development initiatives, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17.”
