The Federal Government has commenced the nationwide distribution of 15 million learners’ support kits to vulnerable pupils across Nigeria, reinforcing its commitment to reducing the number of out-of-school children and ensuring inclusive access to basic education.
The flag-off ceremony was held in Makurdi on Thursday, alongside the 2026 Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Basic Education Summit and the National Launch of the Learners Support Programme (LSP).
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, said the initiative demonstrates the resolve of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismantle barriers preventing millions of children from accessing basic education. She explained that the Learners Support Programme would begin with the distribution of 1,155,900 school kits nationwide, comprising equal quantities of school bags, sandals, pencils and exercise books targeted at children from low-income and vulnerable households.
Garba noted that the initial rollout forms part of a broader intervention that will see 15 million school kits distributed across the country to ease the financial burden on parents, boost enrolment, enhance retention and improve transition rates in basic schools. According to her, the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda is driving a comprehensive restructuring of UBEC to build a more resilient and inclusive basic education system.
She commended Hyacinth Alia for prioritising education and hosting the national launch, describing Benue State as strategic in advancing reforms aimed at improving enrolment and retention. She also praised the leadership of Benue SUBEB under its Chairman, Grace Adagba, for convening the summit themed, “Innovative Strategies for Addressing the Menace of Out-of-School Children: Enhancing Enrolment and Retention of Children in Basic Schools.”
The UBEC boss observed that millions of Nigerian children are still denied their right to education as guaranteed under the Universal Basic Education Act of 2004, stressing that bold innovation, urgent intervention and genuine collaboration are necessary to reverse the trend. She outlined measures being pursued to address the crisis, including stronger community mobilisation, the use of technology to track and increase enrolment, improved security in vulnerable schools, targeted incentives for girl-child education, inclusive teacher training and the expansion of non-formal education pathways for older out-of-school children.
Garba further highlighted ongoing collaboration between UBEC and Benue SUBEB, revealing that the state is up to date in accessing matching grants following reforms that relaxed funding conditions and improved utilisation, a development she said has boosted access to funds by over 80 per cent nationwide. She listed interventions executed in the state, including the construction of new classrooms, toilets, offices, libraries, ICT laboratories and Early Childhood Care Development Education centres, as well as the renovation of hundreds of classrooms and other facilities.
In addition, she said furniture had been provided for thousands of pupils, teachers and library users, alongside the installation of boreholes and overhead tanks and the construction of perimeter fencing in several schools. She also disclosed that under the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC)-School Improvement Programme, thousands of community-based projects have been delivered in Benue, supported by over N1.5 billion in first-tranche funding to more than a thousand schools, impacting hundreds of thousands of learners.
Reaffirming UBEC’s commitment to supporting Benue State, Garba said programmes such as the Learners Retention Support Programme and the Learners Support Programme would continue to strengthen enrolment drives and out-of-school children reduction strategies.
“Today’s flag-off demonstrates that the trend can be reversed. Together, we can ensure that every child in Benue and across Nigeria can learn, grow and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s future,” she said.
The summit is expected to produce policy recommendations and practical strategies aimed at expanding access to quality basic education and addressing persistent gaps, particularly the challenge of out-of-school children.
