The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has commenced a strategic retreat for its senior management team aimed at strengthening the agency’s role in delivering quality and sustainable basic education nationwide.
The retreat is designed to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and align its operations more closely with national education priorities.
At the opening session, participants lauded UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, describing her decision to convene the retreat as a demonstration of visionary leadership. According to officials, her dedication to institutional reforms and improved service delivery highlights a clear understanding of the pressing challenges in Nigeria’s basic education sector.
With the theme, “Repositioning UBEC for Sustainable Basic Education Delivery in Nigeria,” the retreat seeks to evaluate progress made so far, identify persistent bottlenecks, and develop fresh strategies to improve learning outcomes for children across the federation.
Stakeholders, however, noted that the sector still faces daunting obstacles, including the rising number of out-of-school children, inadequate infrastructure, shortage of qualified teachers, poor learning achievements, and weak planning and implementation structures at sub-national levels.
The retreat is also taking place within the context of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive and qualitative development. In line with this, the Ministry of Education recently introduced the National Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), a framework designed to drive coordination, accountability, and results across the system. UBEC has pledged to fully align with the initiative, particularly its 13 ministerial deliverables linked directly to basic education.
In her address, Garba emphasized that the success of UBEC’s reform agenda hinges on collective responsibility, teamwork, and sustained commitment to results. She thanked the Lagos State Government for hosting the retreat and urged participants to make meaningful contributions that would shape the future of basic education in Nigeria.
