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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has announced the release of over N5bn to 518 communities in Nigeria under the School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP), to strengthen basic education delivery and tackle the challenge of out-of-school children.
It said the intervention is expected to prioritize underserved areas, focusing on the rehabilitation of dilapidated structures, provision of classroom furniture, and improvement of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities.
It also announced the disbursement of N434.5 million as the final tranche of the 2023 and 2024 SBMC-SIP funds, which will be used to support the completion of 11,484 several other ongoing projects across basic schools in the country.
Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, disclosed this at the flag-off of the 2025 SBMC-SIP implementation, on Thursday, in Abuja.
The event provided the opportunity for the participants to review the implementation progress under the 2023 and 2024 SBMC-SIP cycles; begin formal disbursement of the final tranche support funds for that cycle; flag-off 2025 SBMC-SIP, and launch of the Learner Retention Programme.
Dr. Garba who was represented by UBEC’s
Deputy Executive Secretary, (Technical) Mr. Rasaq Olajuwon Akinyemi, said the intervention underscores the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to improving school infrastructure, deepening community participation, and ensuring that children not only enroll in school but remain through completion.
She disclosed that the N5.18bn earmarked for the 2025 programme will support 518 communities nationwide, with 14 schools from each state and the Federal Capital Territory benefiting.
“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 enrolls in school but remains in school to successfully complete basic education.
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“Collectively, these actions reflect a deliberate and integrated strategy to strengthen school governance, improve infrastructure, deepen community ownership, and systematically address the barriers that keep children out of school or push them out before completion,” the UBEC boss stated.
She noted that the SBMC-SIP has continued to demonstrate impact as a community-driven initiative, with over 1,112 schools supported across the country, and more than N1.5bn disbursed in previous cycles.
She disclosed that a total of 13,670 projects have been initiated nationwide, many of which are expected to attract over 400,000 children back to school.
“As we complete one cycle and begin another, we must ensure that implementation is guided by transparency, accountability, and timelines. UBEC will continue to work closely with State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and local stakeholders to ensure effective delivery,” she promised.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in his remarks, described the initiatives as critical components of the Federal Government’s strategy to strengthen basic education and achieve inclusive learning outcomes.
He said the programmes align with national education policies, including the Universal Basic Education Act and the National Policy on Education, as well as global commitments such as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4).
Dr. Alausa who was represented by the Director, Basic Education, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, emphasized that the SBMC-SIP promotes decentralization and community ownership of school development, while the 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.
The Minister urged stakeholders, including SUBEBs, local authorities, and community leaders, to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of funds, stressing that the success of the interventions depends on effective implementation and monitoring at the grassroots.
