In a major push to curb Nigeria’s out-of-school crisis, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has announced the disbursement of over ₦5 billion to 518 communities nationwide and also launched a learner retention programme targeting one million pupils.
The intervention, unveiled on Thursday in Abuja during the national flag-off of the 2025 School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP), signals a shift from mere school enrolment to ensuring children remain in classrooms through completion.
UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr Aisha Garba, said the ₦5.18 billion fund would be deployed across 518 beneficiary communities, with each state and the Federal Capital Territory receiving support for 14 schools, largely in underserved areas.
Represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Mr Rasaq Akinyemi, she noted that the initiative would tackle poor learning conditions through rehabilitation of dilapidated infrastructure, provision of furniture, and improved water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
She said, “This represents a renewed national commitment to strengthening community participation in school governance, improving learning environments across the Federation, and ensuring that every Nigerian child not only enrols in school but remains in school to complete basic education.”
Garba stressed that the intervention goes beyond funding, describing it as part of a coordinated strategy to address systemic barriers driving school dropouts.
“The event brings together four significant milestones: a review of the 2023 and 2024 cycles, the disbursement of final tranche funds, the flag-off of the 2025 programme, and the launch of the Learner Retention Programme.
“Collectively, these actions reflect a deliberate and integrated strategy to strengthen school governance, improve infrastructure, deepen community ownership, and systematically address the barriers that keep children out of school or push them out before completion.”
She disclosed that the SBMC-SIP has already supported over 1,112 schools nationwide, with more than ₦1.5 billion disbursed in previous cycles and 13,670 projects initiated efforts expected to return over 400,000 children to school.
UBEC also released ₦434.5 million as the final tranche for the 2023 and 2024 cycles to complete 11,484 ongoing projects.
Beyond infrastructure, the Commission launched a ₦5 billion Learner Retention Support Programme, targeting one million pupils in eight states in its first phase, aimed at tackling socio-economic factors responsible for school dropouts.
“Access to education is important, but retention is what ensures that its promise is fulfilled. We must address the realities that force children out of school.”
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described the twin interventions as critical to achieving inclusive and equitable education, noting that they align with national education policies and global commitments, including Sustainable Development Goal 4.
Represented by the Director of Basic Education, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, the minister said the programmes would deepen decentralisation and empower communities to take ownership of school development.
“These initiatives reaffirm the government’s commitment to ensuring that every school-age child is enrolled, retained, and able to complete basic education.”
The Minister, however, warned that the success of the programmes would depend on strict transparency, accountability, and effective grassroots monitoring.
