The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has allocated N5.18 billion to 518 communities across Nigeria for the implementation of its School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP).
This was disclosed by UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Rasaq Akinyemi, on Thursday in Abuja during the national flag-off ceremony of the 2025 SBMC-SIP.
At the event, the commission also rolled out the 2025 SBMC-SIP cycle as part of broader efforts to improve basic education delivery, while unveiling a new Learners’ Retention Programme and releasing N434.5 million as final tranche funding for previously approved school projects.
Garba said the N5.18 billion allocation would support hundreds of underserved communities across the country under the 2025 programme cycle.
She added that the programme has continued to deliver measurable outcomes since its inception, supporting schools and improving learning conditions nationwide.
UBEC also disbursed N434.5 million as the final tranche for the 2023 and 2024 SBMC-SIP cycles to enable the completion of ongoing projects across the country.
In addition, the commission introduced a Learners’ Retention Programme aimed at addressing barriers that keep children out of school, including poverty and social challenges.
Also speaking, Director of Basic Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folake Davies, who represented the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the initiative reflects a broader commitment to inclusive education and tackling out-of-school challenges.
The intervention comes amid growing concern over the global and domestic out-of-school children crisis.
According to UNESCO, about 273 million children and young people are currently out of school worldwide, with one in six school-age children affected.
In Nigeria, the Federal Government estimates that about 15 million children are out of school, requiring roughly $345 million annually to reintegrate them into the education system.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has also noted that out-of-school rates remain high nationwide, particularly in the North-East and North-West, where the figures are significantly higher.
