Bobboyi says federal government’s assistance is not enough to support basic education.

Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has called on the governors of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration to increase their investment in basic education. He highlighted that the Federal Government’s matching grant is insufficient to effectively support the sub-sector.

Bobboyi made these remarks during a meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) focused on the effective schools program. He urged these groups to assist the government in advocating and raising awareness about the importance of prioritizing basic education.

He identified several key challenges, including the high number of out-of-school children, inadequate teaching and learning infrastructure, an outdated UBE enabling Act, gaps in teacher quality and availability, limited partnerships for UBE delivery, insecurity, and a lack of awareness about the importance of education in rural and underserved communities.

Bobboyi encouraged state governments to show their commitment to improving basic education by promptly accessing available intervention funds. He also called on all levels of government to address the issue of out-of-school children.

Additionally, Bobboyi announced that the commission would soon introduce an Open School program, which aims to provide a flexible learning approach in Nigeria. This initiative is intended to offer broader access to basic education for Nigerians, especially those who cannot attend traditional UBE settings.

He noted that despite significant efforts and investments from various stakeholders, including the government, corporate entities, and private individuals, there is still a need for substantial improvements in the education sector.