Aisha Garba: Delta’s teachers tracking model can boost basic education nationwide
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, has identified Delta State’s technology-driven teacher attendance system, Attend360, as a model that could help strengthen accountability and improve learning outcomes across Nigeria.
Garba said the platform, which monitors teacher attendance, demonstrates how technology can address a fundamental requirement for effective education, ensuring that teachers are present and actively engaged in classrooms.
“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.
The UBEC boss spoke during a courtesy visit to the Delta State Government, represented by Deputy Governor, Monday Onyeme, in Asaba, as part of activities marking the 30th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).
The meeting themed, “Repositioning Basic Education in Nigeria to Optimise Investment and Impact,” focused on improving the impact of investments and innovations in basic education.
Garba commended Delta for accessing its UBE matching grants up to 2025, but urged the state to ensure full utilisation of available funds and prompt implementation of approved programmes.
She also encouraged Delta to take advantage of the education component of the World Bank-supported HOPE Education Programme, with up to $500 million earmarked for education. She said participating states must access the 2026 matching grant and implement at least 50 per cent of their 2025 Action Plan.
Responding, Onyeme said updated records showed that Delta had about N1 billion in unutilised funds, rather than N8 billion earlier referenced. He disclosed that the state had implemented about 90 per cent of its 2025 Action Plan and received its 2026 matching grant.
During a separate visit to the Asagba of Asaba, HRM Prof. Epiphany Azinge, Garba called for stronger collaboration with traditional institutions and other stakeholders.
Azinge described basic education as the foundation of Nigeria’s future, stressing that quality teachers produce quality citizens.
“If you have quality teachers, you produce quality people,” he said, urging UBEC and SUBEBs to confront challenges and ensure that no child, including those with disabilities and from disadvantaged backgrounds, is left behind.
Garba assured Nigerians that UBEC would continue working with states and stakeholders to ensure that investments and innovations translate into improved classrooms and better learning outcomes.