UBEC allocates N22bn to states for training of 224,000 teachers

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has allocated N22 billion to state governments to train 224,000 teachers and enhance education management in all 36 states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, revealed this on Monday in Abuja at the national launch of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) School-Based Management Committee-School Improvement Programme (SBMCSIP) and the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programmes, both supported through the Federal Government/UBE intervention fund.

This special initiative is being introduced as the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, disclosed that more than 17 million school-age children across the nation, particularly in rural and economically disadvantaged areas, are still out of school.

Providing further detail on the fund distribution, Alausa stated that each state would receive N598 million to conduct focused training in key subject areas aimed at elevating education quality through the UBEC teacher professional development programme.

Additionally, the Minister announced that N2 billion had been disbursed to about 1,147 school-based management committees across all 36 states and the FCT.

He noted that these funds would support over 15,000 improvement projects, which include classroom renovations, procurement of furniture, construction of workshop spaces, and strengthening security measures in schools.

Each school-based management committee was given a cheque of N1.8 million during the event, where the Minister affirmed that the investment would benefit over 56,000 schools and positively affect more than 17 million learners.

He reaffirmed the dedication of the administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of their birthplace, receives “access to quality education delivered in a safe, functional, and supportive environment.”

Alausa outlined several reforms and initiatives that have been introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education to reposition the country’s basic education system. He emphasized that the SBMCSIP initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes education and “even capital development at the core of national transformation.”

He stated, “The President has been clear. Our children must learn, our teachers must be equipped, and our schools must become engines of opportunity for every single Nigerian household.”

He further expressed satisfaction that the programme would promote partnerships within communities and “foster community partnership and engagement, which can effectively address the issue of out-of-school children and also expand access to school-age children while improving the teaching and learning environment.”

He added, “The Teacher Professional Development programme aligns with the ministry’s vision of improving learning outcomes through the strengthening of teacher quality in the sector to meet global standards. Recently, and as part of these reform measures, a new curriculum that promotes competence and skills was introduced.”

The Minister applauded UBEC for its dedicated execution of the SBMCSIP initiative and urged state and local governments to sustain and build upon the federal government’s intervention efforts, emphasizing that the implementation of basic education is a constitutional responsibility they must uphold.

He encouraged the two tiers of government to fully leverage the federal government’s support by ensuring diligent oversight and also “injecting further indigenous funds into the SBMC-SIP programme for greater impact.”

He also advised schools benefitting from the intervention to strictly follow the revised School Improvement Programme (SIP) Implementation Guidelines, which were officially introduced at the event.

He concluded, “Additionally, at the Federal Ministry of Education, we are committed to supporting UBEC’s 2025–2027 Bold Commitments that will ensure the construction of 7,200 new UBE facilities, provision of 1,680,000 pieces of furniture, extensive renovation of 195,000 classrooms, provision of 22,900 water boreholes and 28,000 toilets, and provision of perimeter fencing in 14,000 schools to ensure a safe learning environment, particularly in the rural areas.”

In her remarks, Minister of State for Education Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad stated that the official flag-off of the SBMCSIP programme is a clear demonstration of the government’s “resolve and commitment to providing the enabling atmosphere for individuals and groups to make valid contributions to the improvement of basic education and ultimately national transformation.”

In her welcome address, UBEC Executive Secretary Aisha Garba acknowledged that although the basic education sector has seen progress, significant challenges remain.

She lamented the reality that “about 17 million school-age children remain out of school, especially in rural and low-income communities across the country.”

She added, “While enrolment rose by 7 percentage points between 2016 and 2021, access to education has not expanded to all; about 17 million children remain out of school, especially in rural and low-income communities.

“And only 9% of children aged 7–14 in rural areas demonstrated age-appropriate reading skills.

“These numbers are more than statistics—they are a call to action for urgent, targeted investments in infrastructure and teacher development to expand equitable access to all parts of Nigeria,” she said.