In a significant step towards enhancing the quality of basic education in Nigeria, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, convened a pivotal meeting today with representatives from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The focal point of this collaboration revolves around UBEC’s strategic plan for the UBE Effective Schools Programme (ESP), a comprehensive initiative aimed at fostering excellence in education across Nigeria’s 36 states.
The partnership with JICA is set to invigorate key areas within the ESP, specifically targeting improvements in Science and Mathematics Education, bolstering school infrastructure, and facilitating the deployment of the Basic Education Data Collection Survey (BEDS). This vital survey aims to gather essential data that will drive evidence-based policy decisions, ultimately enhancing learning outcomes for students in basic education throughout the nation.
Under this proposed collaboration, JICA will extend its technical expertise and Grant Aid to UBEC, identifying the Effective Schools Programme as a cornerstone of its forthcoming 2025 Grant Aid project. This cooperative endeavor is designed to not only advance educational development but also to strengthen ongoing initiatives aligned with UBEC’s mandate, setting a new standard for educational delivery in Nigeria.
During the meeting, Executive Secretary Aisha Garba, alongside Dr. Ossom Ossom, Head of Department, and key members of the JICA team, including Hikaru Kusakabe and Yamamoto Tetsuya, engaged in fruitful discussions to chart a clear pathway for the Effective Schools Programme. The dialogue fostered a shared understanding of priorities and strategies, resulting in the establishment of defined timelines and actionable next steps to ensure the successful implementation of the 2025 Grant Aid Project.
This strategic partnership exemplifies UBEC’s commitment to elevating educational standards and fostering a more robust and effective basic education system, paving the way for future generations to thrive in an increasingly competitive world.
