By Omoyeni Ojeifo
In an effort to revitalize primary education infrastructure, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has launched the 2025 phase of its School-Based Management Committee School Improvement Programme (SBMC–SIP).
The commission has committed N5.18 billion to this initiative, targeting development across 518 communities.
The rollout was announced on Thursday in Abuja during the national launch of the program.
Alongside the funding, UBEC introduced a strategic initiative designed to boost student retention and confirmed the release of additional capital to finalize existing projects.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, said the intervention aligns with national education priorities and global development goals.
Alausa, who was represented by the Director of Basic Education in the ministry, Dr. Folake Davies, noted that both the school improvement programme and the retention initiative are designed to reduce the number of out-of-school children and strengthen learning outcomes.
“The disbursement of the 2023 and 2024 funds will help schools complete ongoing projects, procure learning materials, and consolidate earlier gains, while the 2025 rollout will drive new interventions to improve teaching and learning conditions,” he said.
According to him, meaningful change in the education sector requires collective effort.
“These interventions are targeted at supporting learners’ retention, particularly in states with high numbers of out-of-school children, education transformation cannot be driven from the center alone.”
Calling on stakeholders to ensure that the impact of the programme is visible across the communities, the minister also said: “The impact of these interventions must not only be on paper. It must be visible in our states, across local governments, and in every school measurable and truly transformative,” she said.
The UBEC Executive Secretary Aisha Garba, noted that the intervention reflects government’s sustained commitment to expanding access to quality education.
“The flag-off of the 2025 SBMC-SIP demonstrates clearly that the Federal Government remains committed to equitable access, improved infrastructure, and better learning outcomes at the basic education level,” said Garba represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Rasaq Akinyemi.
Shee disclosed that the 2025 allocation will support 14 schools in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, targeting communities with severe infrastructure gaps.
“I am pleased to announce that 518 communities will receive a total of N5.18 billion as support funds for the 2025 implementation. This translates to 14 schools per state and the FCT benefiting from the programme.”
According to her, the intervention will focus on rehabilitating dilapidated school structures, providing classroom furniture, and improving water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
The commission noted that the initiative remains a key community driven model, with local stakeholders playing an active role in identifying needs and monitoring project delivery.
Providing an update on previous cycles, she said the recently released N434.5 million would enable beneficiary schools to complete thousands of ongoing projects nationwide.
“Today’s disbursement of the 2023 and 2024 final tranche support fund in the sum of N434.5 million will enable schools to complete over 11,000 ongoing projects across the country,” she stated.
She stressed that strict accountability would guide the use of funds, noting that implementation would follow a structured process involving sensitisation, verification, training, and continuous monitoring in collaboration with State Universal Basic Education Boards and School Based Management Committees.
“These fund must be tied to clear plans that deliver meaningful impact and improve the well-being of our children, they are not for random spending.”
UBEC also introduced the Learners’ Retention Programme as part of efforts to tackle the rising number of out of school children, which officials say is driven by economic hardship and social challenges.
UBEC reiterated that Nigeria’s basic education system continues to depend on coordinated efforts between the federal government, states, and local communities to improve access, upgrade infrastructure, and strengthen service delivery.
In recent years, attention has increasingly shifted from infrastructure alone to the challenge of enrolment and retention, as economic pressures, insecurity, and other social factors continue to push children out of school.
The commission expressed optimism that the combined interventions would not only improve learning environments but also ensure that more children remain in school and complete their education.
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