Aisha Garba, Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Lagos State in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking after a meeting with the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, she highlighted Lagos as a model for inclusive education in Nigeria. According to her, “Lagos has structures that ensure children with special learning needs are not left behind.” She explained that the State’s partnership with the private sector in expanding access to education should be replicated in other states to address out-of-school challenges.
Garba also visited the UBEC-funded Smart School in Badagry, which has the capacity to host over 1,000 students and is equipped with modern ICT facilities. She stressed the importance of sustained support, saying, “We agreed on the need for security, teacher recruitment, and student transportation so that the school can serve its full purpose.”
She noted that UBEC will continue to partner with Lagos and other states to scale successful models and ensure every Nigerian child has access to quality education. Her remarks also emphasized the role of ICT in modern learning and the potential of smart schools in bridging educational gaps across Nigeria.
Expressing appreciation to the Lagos State Government, Garba said, “I sincerely appreciate Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for his warm reception and the State’s continued collaboration with UBEC in advancing the future of education.”
The meeting marks another step in efforts to improve inclusive learning, reduce the number of out-of-school children, and strengthen public-private partnerships in the education sector.