The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has deepened its collaboration with the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigerian Education (PLANE), a flagship programme of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), with a renewed commitment to tackling challenges in Nigeria’s basic education sector through strategic public–private partnerships.
At a strategic engagement held yesterday at UBEC Headquarters in Abuja, the meeting—chaired by Mrs. Aisha M. Garba—served as a platform to welcome Dr. Gboyega Ilusanya, the newly appointed National Team Lead of PLANE, while also reviewing ongoing and prospective areas of collaboration between UBEC and FCDO/PLANE.
Deliberations focused on critical issues such as strengthening Public–Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives in basic education, the role of non-state schools in addressing the challenge of out-of-school children, and the adoption of innovative solutions to enhance teaching and learning outcomes nationwide.
Among the innovative strategies discussed were the provision of subsidized smartphones for teachers, zero-rated data access to support digital learning, and expanded professional development opportunities for educators. These initiatives, participants agreed, would play a pivotal role in equipping teachers with the tools needed to improve classroom delivery and drive inclusive education.
The session reaffirmed the transformative potential of well-structured PPPs in Nigeria’s education ecosystem. According to the resolutions, refining and scaling up innovative interventions, while strengthening the regulation of non-state schools, would increase enrolment and retention, boost teacher capacity, and ensure improved learning outcomes for all children across the country.
Mrs. Garba expressed optimism about the future of the collaboration, noting that the UBEC–FCDO/PLANE partnership had already begun to shape impactful reforms in Nigeria’s basic education system. “By accelerating progress through innovation and partnerships, we can deliver real change that secures brighter futures for millions of Nigerian children,” she said.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to sustain momentum and expand collaborative efforts that align with the Federal Government’s vision of providing quality and equitable basic education for all Nigerian children.
