Office of the Executive Secretary

OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, who hails from Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria, was born on July 29, 1957. He had his primary education at the Fufore Primary School, where he obtained the First School Leaving Certificate in 1971. He had his secondary education at Government Secondary School, Yola and obtained the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Certificate in 1975.

He thereafter proceeded to the North East College of Arts and Science, Maiduguri, Nigeria and then Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A., where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History in 1982, a Master‟s Degree and finally capping it with a PhD in History of Educational Institutions in 1992.

Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, having completed what passes for a sound educational foundation began his experience in the world of work as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of History, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, in 1984. He further served the university as a Teaching Fellow and Research Assistant. His working career in the US culminated in his appointment as a Research Fellow in the same university up till 1992.

In a bid to give back to his country, he returned to Nigeria and took up appointment as a Research Coordinator with Huda Huda Publishing Company Ltd. Zaria, Nigeria. He served in this capacity until 1995.Between 1995 and 1996, he joined the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow. He later returned to Huda Huda Publishing Company Ltd., Zaria as the Managing Director and served in this capacity till 1998. While under the employment of Ahmadu Bello University between 2004 and 2006, Dr. Bobboyi served as Member, Humanities Complex Committee; Member, Committee of Deans and Directors (CDD) of the university; Member of Ahmadu Bello University Senate; Chairman, Committee on the Establishment of a new Ahmadu Bello University College in Kaduna as well as External Examiner, Department of History, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto,Nigeria.A significant milestone in his professional career was his appointment as Director of Arewa House, Centre for Research and Historical Documentation, Ahmadu Bello University, Kaduna, Nigeria and served in this capacity till 2006. He was responsible for overseeing the administration as well as the general operations of the House, serving as member of and Secretary to the Board of Governors of the House and working with state governments, government agencies and non- governmental organisations in developing sustainable policy in areas of education, culture and the economy.

After a successful tenure at Arewa House,Dr.Bobboyi was appointed Director-General, Centre for Regional Integration and Development (CRID), Abuja. Focusing on West African developmental issues, especially education and socio-economic development from 2007 to 2016, CRID under his leadership, among others, undertook major education and development projects such as the collation and editing of the proceedings of Nigeria‟s Constitutional Conferences from 1946 -1963 for the National Institute of Legislative Studies; Tsangaya Schools Project for the Education Trust Fund (ETF), from 2008 till date; Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja; Textbook development, editing and publication for the Education Trust Fund, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja 2008 – 2013; and Research and Advocacy Project on Girl Child Education in Northern States of Nigeria, The Hewlett Packard Foundation, Seattle USA, 2010 – 2012.

Bobboyi is a visiting fellow and renowned speaker at various national and international conferences. Some of the platforms that have benefitted from his wealth of intellect and expertise include: John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 12^th – 15^th December, 2002. Conference on Nigeria: Governance, Law and Conflict. Presented a paper on Conflict and Conflict Management in Central Nigeria: The case of the Tiv and the Jukun.
Programme of African Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, May-June 2001 as Senior Scholar in Residence. Participated and chaired sessions in two conferences: Transmission of Islamic Learning in Africa and Nigeria‟s Economy: The Life and Economic Thought of Pius Okigbo.
Muhammad V. University, Rabat and the Kingdom of Morocco International Conference on 100 years of relations between Fez and Sub-Saharan Africa, November, 1993. Presented a paper on the Relationship between Fez and Kanem-Borno, with particular reference to activities of Shaykh Abdallah AlBarnawi.
George Mason University, Washington DC in collaboration with National

Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and National Defence College, Abuja on Institutional Reforms in Nigeria (Under the Chairmanship of Prof. John Paden).

5.East Centre and Wits University, Johannesburg, International Conference on Conceptualizing Power between States and Islamic Movements, held at Pretoria, from 19^th– 20^th January, 2015. Presented a paper entitled, Islam,Militancy, and Attitude to Political Power and Authority: The Case of Nigeria‟s Boko Haram.

Dr. Hamid Bobboyi‟s academic accomplishments are readily demonstrated through his rich contributions to literature.Some of his major publications in collaboration with some authors include Peace-Building and Conflict Resolution in Northern Nigeria (2005); Adamawa Emirate: A Documentary Source Book, Vol. I, (1809-1965), CRID, Abuja, 2009; Principles of Leadership According to the Founding Fathers of the Sokoto Caliphate: An Anthology, CRID, Abuja 2011;„‟Nigeria, ECOWAS, and the Promotion of Regional Integration and Development‟‟ in Attahiru Jega and J. Farris, Fifty Years of Nigeria: Contributions to Peace Democracy and Development, Abuja: Shehu Yar‟adua Centre 2010;

He has also been in the forefront of the promotion of national and regional integration and has deployed his professional competence in initiating and facilitating peace building efforts at national and regional levels. Some of his major engagements in this respect include:

Facilitator to the Peace-conference organised by Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at Arewa house, Kaduna, to resolve the politico-ethnic crisis between the Tiv and the Jukun in Benue and Taraba States, 2002.

2.Chairman, Technical Committee on Northern Nigeria Peace Conference, organised by the Northern States Governors Forum, December 2004.

3.Resource person, Inter-faith Research Roundtable organized by the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Nigeria, under the Director.

4.Technical Advisor on Socio-religious Implications of Nigeria‟s Polio-Crisis at the Global Vaccine Summit, organized by the Gates Foundation and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE, December 2013.

5.Director and member, Technical Committee of the National Development Project (NDP), Abuja. The NDP is a non– governmental organization that provides policy advice on fiscal and monetary policy, agricultural produce marketing, education, as well as on peace–building and Conflict resolution to various agencies of government.

6.Member Organizing Committee, First Industrial Roundtable 2002 to deliberate on the Northern States Industry Survey and to work out strategies for stimulating the industrialization of Northern states.

He is a Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and Member, Board of Trustees, Girl-Child Concerns, Abuja.

INTRODUCTION

The Executive Secretary is the Chief Executive Officer who manages the general administration of the Commission and works closely with the Board and Management to achieve the overall mandate of the UBE programme in Nigeria. He reports to the Honourable Minister of Education. He is assisted by two Deputy Executive Secretaries (Technical and Services) who support him in carrying out the duties of the Office.

FUNCTIONS

Among others, the Office of the Executive Secretary carries out the following responsibilities:

formulating and coordinating the execution of policy guidelines for the successful operation of the UBE Programme nationwide;
ensuring the timely receipt of block grant from the Federal Government and allocating same to States, and other related agencies implementing the UBE Programme in accordance with an approved formula;
advising the Federal Government, through the Honourable Minister of Education, on the effective funding and orderly development of basic education in Nigeria;
ensuring efficient collation and preparation of periodic master plans for a balanced and coordinated development of basic education in Nigeria;
ensuring effective monitoring of Federal Government inputs into the implementation of basic education;
presenting periodic progress reports on the implementation of the UBE Programme to Mr. President through the Honourable Minister of Education
liaising with the Honourable Minister of Education on matters of implementation, funding and general management of the UBE Programme;
liaising with the Presidency and National Assembly from time to time on the funding and implementation of the programme;
sustaining cordial relationship and cooperation with SUBEBs, State Governments and other stakeholders; and
pursuing enrolment campaigns and other programme meant to achieve UBE set objectives and goals.

STRUCTURE

Below are the Units directly under the Office of the Executive Secretary.

Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical).
Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary (Services).
Legal Unit.
Procurement Unit.
Public Relations & Protocol Unit.
Servicom; and
Special Projects Unit (World Bank).

ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In order to effectively carry out the implementation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme, the Commission has been working diligently to surmount challenges faced in the delivery of basic education to every school-going age child in Nigeria. The Commission is working with all stakeholders in fulfilling its mandate.

The full report of major activities, achievements and challenges of the Commission in the year 2020 are provided in the reports of Departments and Units.

1. Participation of Executive Secretary in Conferences and Seminars

It should be noted that year 2020 was characterized by COVID-19 pandemic resulting in fear and restrictions all over the globe. Consequently, in order to ensure that basic education did not suffer serious set-back, online (virtual) interactive sessions sufficed for major national and international engagements which ordinarily would require physical face-to-face meetings. However, despite the limitations brought about by the pandemic, the Executive Secretary was able to participate in the following activities:

Goodwill Message delivered at a Conference on Repositioning the Muslim Family for National Development held at State House, Abuja in February 2020.
Financing Basic Education: Improving Access and Utilization of UBEC Resources, presented to the 102^nd (2^nd in 2020) Meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at State House held in February 2020.
Brief on UBEC Activities: December 2019 – July 2020, presented at the Meeting of UBEC Board held in July 2020.
Retooling Required for Basic Education into the Future: A UBEC Perspective, presented to House Committee on Basic Education at National Assembly held in July 2020.
Update on Programmes & Activities of the UBE Commission, presented at the 2020 1^st Quarterly Meeting of the Honourable Ministers of Education, Permanent Secretary with Heads of Departments and Parastatals of Federal Ministry of Education, held at the Federal Ministry of Education in August 2020.
The Need to Proffer Lasting Solutions on the Number of Out-of-School Children in Nigeria, presented to House Committee on Out-of-School Children in Nigeria at National Assembly, Abuja held in August 2020.
A Speech delivered at the Review of the 2017 – 2019 and Development of 2020 – 2022 State Medium-Term Basic Education Strategic Plans (SMTBESPS) Meeting, held at Bolingo Hotel & Towers, Abuja in October 2020.
The Need to Eradicate Child Destitution and Remove Beggars from Nigerian Street through Provision of Standard Education System and Improved Livelihood, a Position Paper presented during a Public Hearing by House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, held at NASS Complex (House of Representatives New Building) in November 2020.
Overview of the Universal Basic Education Programme, presented at the Interactive Meeting with Federal Character Commission, at FCC Office, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja held in November 2020.

2. Hosting of Dignitaries

In the course of his duties, the Executive Secretary hosted a number of dignitaries among who were:

The Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Samuel Ortom on 7^th February, 2020;
The Executive Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola on the 7^th February, 2020;
House Committee on Basic and Secondary Education on Oversight Visit on 10^th February, 2020;
SUBEB Directors of Social Mobilization for a Three-Day Meeting on 10^th 12^th February, 2020;
A Team from UNESCO on 14^th February, 2020;
The Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Alh. Abubakar

Sadiq Sani Bello on 9^th March, 2020;

The Executive Secretary, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi receiving the Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Alh. Abubakar Sadiq Sani Bello on a courtesy call to the Commission

The ES welcoming the Executive Governor of His Excellency, Alh. Abubakar Sadiq Sani Niger State during an interactive session in Bello, the Executive Governor of Niger the Commission’s Board Room State making a speech

Her Excellency, Hajia Binta Masari, Wife of the Executive Governor of Katsina State on the 18^thJune, 2020;
The Chairman, Indices and Disbursement Committee of Revenue

Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission on 13^th August, 2020;

Her Excellency, Dr. (Mrs) Eunice E. Ortom, Wife of the Executive Governor of Benue State on 8^th September, 2020;
His Excellency, Ahmed ELkachach, Charge d‟affaires, Embassy of the State of Palestine in Nigeria on 9^th September, 2020;

The Executive Secretary, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi receiving His Excellency, Ahmed ELkachach, Charge d’affaires, Embassy of the State of Palestine to his office

The ES being assisted by the SA-ES, The ES in a photograph with the team Baba Sali Song while presenting a gift to from the Embassy of Palestine the Palestinian Charge d’affaires

Daily Trust Management on 16^th September, 2020;
Mohammed Haja, the Director-General, National Digital Institute on 29^th October, 2020;
The Wife of the Inspector General of Police on 6^th November 2020.

3. Visits by the Executive Secretary

The Executive Secretary:

met with the House Committee‟s Ad-Hoc Committee on Un-Spent Budget Funds on 13^th & 14^th January, 2020 at NASS Complex, Abuja.
met with Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges & Public Petitions – Petition on Engagement into the service of UBEC on 17^th February, 2020.
attended a Conference on Repositioning the Muslim Family for National Development by Future Assured, held at the Villa, State House, Abuja on 20^th February, 2020.
attended the 5^th Convocation Ceremony of Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State on the 21^st and 22^nd February, 2020.
attended an Interactive Meeting with Senate Committee on Education (Basic & Secondary) on 23^rd June, 2020.

The E. S., Dr. Hamid Bobboyi and management of UBEC during an Interactive Meeting with Senate Committee on Education (Basic & Secondary)

attended an Interactive Session with the House of Reps Sub-Committee on Out-of-School Children in Nigeria, on 19^th August, 2020 at NASS Complex, Abuja
served as Special Guest of Honour at the 50^th Anniversary of Arewa House organized Forum on 31^st October, 2020.

4. Virtual Engagements

Meeting with Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Team on their desire to assist the Commission with ICT equipment required for Zonal Model Schools, on 20^th March, 2020.
Participated in a Web Conference organized by the House Committee on Basic Education on the Re-tooling required for Basic Education into the Future on 22^nd July, 2020.
Participated in an On-line Meeting organized by UNICEF on Ten-Year Vision for Education in Nigeria on 11^th November, 2020.

Details of other engagements with the International Development Partners (IDPs), such as World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, KOICA, JICA, British Council, UNESCO, etc. will be found in the Departments and Units reports.