UBEC disburses ₦5.18bn to 518 communities, launches learner retention programme
By Uji A Iliyasu Abuja
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has disbursed over ₦5 billion to 518 communities nationwide under its School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP), in a renewed push to strengthen basic education and reduce the number of out-of-school children.
Speaking at the national flag-off of the 2025 SBMC-SIP implementation in Abuja on Thursday, UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, said the intervention reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to improving school infrastructure, boosting community participation, and ensuring that children not only enrol in school but remain through completion.
Garba, who was represented by UBEC’s Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Rasaq Olajuwon Akinyemi, disclosed that ₦5.18 billion has been earmarked for the 2025 programme, with 518 communities benefiting. Each state and the Federal Capital Territory will receive support for 14 schools.
She explained that the intervention will prioritise underserved areas, focusing on the rehabilitation of dilapidated structures, provision of classroom furniture, and enhancement of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities.
“This represents a renewed national commitment to strengthening community participation in school governance, improving learning environments across the federation, and ensuring that every Nigerian child not only enrols in school but remains to successfully complete basic education,” she said.
Garba noted that the event marked four key milestones: a review of the 2023 and 2024 SBMC-SIP implementation cycles; disbursement of the final tranche of funds for those cycles; the official flag-off of the 2025 programme; and the launch of the Learner Retention Support Programme.
She described the combined efforts as part of a deliberate strategy to strengthen school governance, improve infrastructure, deepen community ownership, and tackle barriers to school attendance and completion.
According to her, the SBMC-SIP has recorded significant impact, with over 1,112 schools supported and more than ₦1.5 billion disbursed in previous cycles. A total of 13,670 projects have been initiated nationwide, many of which are expected to return over 400,000 children to school.
She also announced the release of ₦434.5 million as the final tranche of the 2023 and 2024 funds to support the completion of 11,484 ongoing projects.
Beyond infrastructure, UBEC launched the Learner Retention Support Programme, targeting one million pupils across eight states in its first phase, with a budget of ₦5 billion. The initiative aims to address socio-economic challenges that hinder school attendance, reduce dropout rates, and promote sustained participation in education.
“Access to education is important, but retention is what ensures that its promise is fulfilled. We must address the realities that force children out of school,” Garba added.
In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the initiatives as critical to the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen basic education and achieve inclusive learning outcomes.
Represented by the Director of Basic Education, Folake Olatunji-David, the minister said the programmes align with national policies, including the Universal Basic Education Act and the National Policy on Education, as well as global commitments such as Sustainable Development Goal 4.
He emphasised that while the SBMC-SIP promotes decentralisation and community ownership of school development, the Learner Retention Programme directly targets the reduction of out-of-school children, particularly in high-burden states.
“These initiatives reaffirm government’s commitment to ensuring that every school-age child is enrolled, retained, and able to complete basic education,” he said.
Alausa urged stakeholders—including State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), local authorities and community leaders—to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of funds, stressing that effective implementation and monitoring at the grassroots are key to success.
Stakeholders at the event also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration, improving school environments, and ensuring that ongoing education reforms deliver measurable outcomes for Nigerian children.