N100bn Spent On Basic Education Yearly Not Sufficient, UBEC Boss

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has stated that the over N100 billion being allocated to the basic sector yearly was not enough to sustain the sector.

Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, disclosed this at a One-Day Meeting on Promoting Partnership with the Organised Private Sector, in Abuja on Monday.

Bobboyi disclosed that Nigeria has over 45 million children currently enrolled in its basic education system, adding that resources from the federal government alone can no longer run the system.

He added that even though the federal government is spending money on education, the sector requires more resources to deliver quality education.

The UBEC boss called on the private sector to appreciate the importance of providing education for children at an early age to contribute to the development of the country.

“Resources alone from the federal government cannot run the system. Nigeria has over 45 million children in the basic education sub-sector and with this number, we require the necessary classrooms.

“A state may get a maximum of maybe N3 billion in the best of times, but N3 billion cannot take care of these. It needs instructional materials, you need a lot of other things,” he said.

Bobboyi, while stating that education is the foundation of the collective existence of Nigerians, noted that if the country neglects education, there would be dire consequences.

Speaking on the objective of the meeting, the UBEC boss said the commission is bringing together key stakeholders to have a functional relationship with the private sector so that the sector will understand the Commission’s activities and challenges bedeviling the basic education subsector.

Bobboyi also lamented that there has been a 29 per cent reduction in the number of teachers in Nigeria’s basic school system following the COVID-19 crisis.

“Unless we are able to pay our teachers and compensate them properly, motivate them it is very difficult to deliver the kind of education that we all dream of,” he said.

He noted that part of the interface with the organised private sector is to work out a programme that can be beneficial to the development of basic education in Nigeria, in the areas of quality, expanding access and finding equity for the physically challenged.

He also called on stakeholders to invest in the smart school initiative to build the technological capacity of the young population.

On her part, the Head Oando Foundation, Mrs. Adegoke Adekanla, commended UBEC for its commitment towards advancing basic education in the country.

Adekanla said the commitment of Oando Foundation also aligns with the broader initiative to strengthen the Universal Basic Education, UBE, programme through collaborative partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Represented by an official of the foundation, Mr. Ede Okechukwu, she stressed that “Basic education forms the foundation upon which all other forms of learning and development rest. It is the fundamental right of every child and the cornerstone of a prosperous and equitable society. Access to quality basic education is not just a goal; it is a moral imperative that shapes the future of nations.

“The involvement of the private sector, as emphasized by UBEC, is instrumental in enhancing the pool of resources for UBE implementation. This collaboration is not only an acknowledgment of the unique strengths and capabilities that non-state actors bring to the table but also a testament to the recognition that effective partnerships are indispensable for achieving better results in development initiatives, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17.

“Most recently through our lead role in the Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) Education Cluster. We are eager to actively contribute to the shared goal of ensuring quality basic education for every child in Nigeria.”