Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria ramps up efforts to curb its out-of-school crisis as the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) disburses over ₦5 billion to 518 communities and launches a nationwide learner retention programme.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Rasaq Olajuwon Akinyemi says the intervention targets both access and retention, shifting focus from enrolment alone to ensuring children complete basic education.
“Access is not enough—retention is what fulfills education’s promise,” she says.
The ₦5.18 billion fund will support 14 schools in each state and the Federal Capital Territory, prioritising underserved areas with dilapidated infrastructure and poor sanitation.
Projects include classroom rehabilitation, provision of furniture, and improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities.
UBEC also disburses ₦434.5 million to complete over 11,000 ongoing projects from previous cycles.
The commission says more than 1,100 schools have already benefited, with 13,670 projects initiated nationwide expected to return over 400,000 children to classrooms.
In a parallel move, UBEC launched a ₦5 billion Learner Retention Programme targeting one million pupils in eight states.
“We must confront the realities pushing children out of school,” Garba adds.
Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa, represented by the Director Basic Education, Dr. Folake Olatunji-David describes the initiatives as critical to achieving inclusive education under national and global targets.
Officials stress that transparency and community ownership will determine the programme’s success.
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Hussaini Ibrahim