1.0      INTRODUCTION

1.1      ATTENDANCE

The flag-off ceremony was attended by the Governor of Cross River State, Executive Secretary of UBEC, Deputy Executive Secretary (Services), UBEC Board members, UBEC Directors, Executive Secretaries of NMEC and NCNE,  Cross River SUBEB Management, Commissioners and Special Advisers of Cross River State Government, Executive Chairmen of SUBEBs from the 16 Southern States, Directors of Social Mobilization SUBEB from the 16 Southern States, UBEC Social Mobilization Officers, UBEC staff, SBMC Chairmen from the 9 beneficiary schools, 11 Local Government Education Secretaries, Media and school children (Find attached a copy of the attendance of participants at the programme).

1.2      OPENING PRAYERS

The flag-off programme started with opening prayers by Hon. Victor Omaga Odo the SUBEB Chairman of Cross River State.

2.0      WELCOME REMARKS

Dr. Ossom M. Ossom, Acting Director of Social Mobilization, welcomed all attendees to the Southern phase National Flag-off of the 2019 SBMC-SIP implementation.

He explained that the purpose of the event was for UBEC to restart its’ stakeholder engagement drive and demonstrate its commitment to creating a constructive environment for interacting positively with community actors to improve UBE delivery services at the grassroots. He went on to say that the flag-off event would provide everyone with the chance to make commitment in working together to guarantee that the collaboration produces effective learning spaces, UBE delivery procedures and outcomes that are genuinely world-class and capable of bringing us closer to enlightenment.

3.0      DRAMA PRESENTATION BY PUPILS

A drama presentation was presented by one of the beneficiary school pupils from PCN Primary School, Akim Qua Town in Calabar Municipal. The drama highlighted the difference between a school with a functional SBMC and one without. The performance stressed the importance of having a functional SBMC in every community.

4.0      ADDRESS BY DR. HAMID BOBBOYI THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, UBEC

Dr. Hamid Bobboyi welcomed all dignitaries and attendees to the flag-off ceremony and official disbursement of the 2019 SBMC-SIP UBEC support fund to selected beneficiary schools across the Nation. He thanked the Governor of Cross River State for consenting to host the event and for his kindness. In his remarks, he mentioned the following:

• that the 2019 national flag-off signalled the commencement of another cycle of deliberate community engagement geared towards establishing a result-oriented mechanism for quality basic education delivery in Nigeria, through the School-Based Management Committees;
• that the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has acknowledged the crucial roles played by the SBMCs in the delivery of basic education in Nigeria and has provided an enabling environment for community members to take responsibility as well as ownership of education delivery services in their domains;
• arising from the successes recorded through the 2017/2018 interventions, UBEC made deliberate attempts at continuing the SBMC-SIP with the 2019 funding arrangement. The 2019 SBMC-SIP implementation activities started with:
  • training of Master Trainers comprising of SUBEB Directors of Social Mobilization and SBMC Desk Officers on the SBMC-SIP project implementation;
  • sensitization of stakeholders;
  • verification of information supplied by prospective beneficiary schools that applied for the 2019 funds; and
  • the cluster-based training of SBMC-SIP Project Implementation Sub-Committees and LGEA SBMC Desk officers. After the selection of beneficiary schools for the 2019 fund, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed and award letters issued to them, in demonstration of UBEC’s readiness to fund and ensure smooth project implementation.
• 1,147 communities would receive a total sum of N888,000,000 being 75% of the funds earmarked for the 2019 SBMC-SIP implementation. He added that stakeholders in the aforementioned 1,147 school/communities have committed themselves to provide nothing less than 10% of the UBEC contribution as counterpart funding for the smooth implementation of all designated 2019 projects;
• through the SBMC-SIP, there would be an increased supply of learning space and other UBE delivery infrastructure, improved monitoring of classroom delivery as well as the creation of a stable and more secured school environment, the SBMCs have demonstrated very significantly that they have the capacity to partner effectively with the government towards bridging notable gaps in education service delivery. This goes a long way in buttressing the fact the performance of the UBE programme depends largely on the collective efforts of all stakeholders;
• Apart from the SBMC-SIP, the Commission had also instituted other programmes such as the Open Schooling Programme and Effective School Programme which is targeted at providing further opportunities for access to UBE as well as ensuring improved learning outcomes in our schools. These new interventions in addition to existing programmes like the Teacher Professional Development; Special Needs Education; Almajiri/Tsangaya/Boy-Child Education Programmes; Enrolment Drive and Advocacy campaigns, etc., are all proof that quality UBE delivery can only happen through the building of partnerships with stakeholders such as International Development Partners, the Organized Private Sector, Traditional, religious and opinion leaders, Federal, State and Local Government, NGOs among others; and
• basic education is an effective development tool for building a peaceful, united and prosperous Nation on the premise that a literate, informed and skilled citizenry will support and actively participate in building the Nation, can only materialize when we engage and provide an opportunity for grassroots stakeholders to play the expected roles in social service delivery.

Dr. Hamid Bobboyi finally ended his address by emphasizing that it is important to note the UBE Programme mantra that “Education For All is the Responsibility of All” and to call upon all stakeholders, to rally around in safeguarding the future and integrity of the nation by supporting such noble initiatives as the SBMC-SIP.

5.0      REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN UBEC GOVERNING BOARD

Prof. Adamu Kyuka Usman, Chairman of the UBEC Governing Board, was well represented by Dr. Danjuma Usman Dabo, a member of the UBEC Governing Board, who delivered the welcome remarks.

In his remarks, he mentioned that SBMC-SIP is one of UBEC’s most impressive initiatives. He praised SBMC members’ for their outstanding effort put into the 2017/2018 SBMC-SIP project execution. He pleaded with the Traditional Rulers to assist the SBMCs in completing their proposed project.

He concluded his remarks, by urging all stakeholders to actively engage in the initiative and to promote basic education in their respective areas.

6.0      GOODWILL MESSAGE

Chairman Nigeria Union of Teachers, Cross River State

The NUT representative, Comrade Dr. Sam Umo started by extending his facilitation to the State Government, UBEC and all stakeholders at the occasion.

He mentioned that the SBMC-SIP has provided community members with the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of facilities and pedagogy in schools. Community participation in the management of schools’ has promoted the sense of ownership and has changed the impression that government property belongs to the government alone.

He added that the disbursement exercise is a good initiative that would help the SBMC-SIP to fulfil one of its cardinal objectives, which has to do with the proper utilization of grants received from the government and other sources.

He also stated his certainty that the various projects that would be executed through this fund would help reduce infrastructural problems and add value to education through quality service delivery.

He ended his speech by appreciating the Cross River State Government, UBEC and other stakeholders, who have been contributing in one way or the other to sustain this laudable process in the school system.

7.0      ADDRESS BY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, CROSS RIVER STATE, SENATOR PROFESSOR BEN AYADE

Prof. Ben Ayade welcomed the Executive Secretary of UBEC to Cross River State. He informed participants that SBMC-SIP is a laudable programme that would improve basic education in Nigeria. He mentioned that the greatest challenge of education in Nigeria is funding.

He added that the State Government is focused on improving the quality of teachers for better basic education service delivery in Nigeria. Also, Cross River State had set up a teachers’ training institution to improve the quality of teaching in the State. He asked what portion of the SBMC-SIP project is set aside for training. He emphasized the importance of having quality teachers to make 2019 SBMC-SIP worthwhile.

He concluded his speech, by acknowledging the effort being put in place by UBEC to improve the quality of basic education for the future generation. He also stated that UBEC must sit up and focus on the failure of this present generation so that they can fix up the country for the future generation.

8.0      PRESENTATION OF DUMMY CHEQUES AND SBMC-SIP IMPLEMENTATION MANUAL TO SBMC BENEFICIARIES

The Governor of Cross River State, Hon. Minister of State Education, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Deputy Executive Secretary (Services) of UBEC, Chairman Cross River SUBEB and other dignitaries presented cheques indicating the 3 components of SBMC-SIP, which are Special Case (N7,000,000.00), Macro (N2,000,000.00) and Micro (N350,000.00). The cheques were handed over to nine schools in Cross River State from various Local Government Areas. The symbolic distribution of the cheques represented the 1,147 schools in the 36 states and the FCT that will benefit from the SBMC-SIP assistance fund.

9.0        REMARKS BY ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES

The representative of the beneficiary schools acknowledged all dignitaries present at the occasion. She appreciated UBEC for the 2019 SBMC-SIP support fund and appreciated the Executive Secretary, UBEC for his commitment in making sure that every Nigerian child is in a good conducive classroom.

10.0     VOTE OF THANKS

The Executive Chairman of Cross River SUBEB, Hon. Victor Omaga Odo who gave the vote of thanks appreciated all the dignitaries for gracing the 2019 SBMC-SIP Flag-off programme in the State.

He spoke about the interest of FME, UBEC, SUBEB and SMoE for having the best interest of the Nigerian Child at heart. He informed participants that Cross River State is keen on providing basic education to every child. He also appreciated all stakeholders for making the event a successful one.

He ended his speech by expressing his gratitude to the Executive Governor of Cross River State for his unending support and the Executive Secretary of UBEC for the opportunity given through the 2019 SBMC-SIP to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country.

11.0     CLOSING PRAYER

The closing prayer was said by Malam Adamu Misau, Director of Finance UBEC.

NEXT STEPS

1. Disbursement of funds to schools