21 Years of UBEC- A Mirror and a Measure

Two decades ago, Nigeria made a promise that no child would be left behind. Through the launch of the Universal Basic Education(UBA) Programme in 1999, the nation committed to providing free, compulsory, and quality education for all. It was more than a policy– it was an act of hope, one that took legal form in 2004 with the passage of the UBE Act. The establishment of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) was meant to give this hope hands, feet, and structure. 

21 years later, that promise stands at a crossroads. Over 10.5 million Nigerian children remain out of school– the highest number in the world. 

UBEC’s coming of age is a crucial moment for reflection. Have we truly delivered education as a right, or has it remained an elusive idea for millions of Nigerian children? What progress has been made– and at what cost? Where have we made mistakes and how do we begin to course-correct?

This article offers a critical review of UBEC’s 21-year journey: assessing its impact, highlighting the persistent gaps, and reimagining  the role of institutions, civil society, and communities in the urgent task of strengthening Nigeria’s basic education system. It is not a celebration for the sake of it– it is a mirror held up to policy, practice and possibility. 

Assessing the Impact: Progress, But for Whom?

Since its inception, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has invested heavily in expanding Nigeria’s basic education landscape– from building classrooms to training teachers and introducing targeted intervention programmes. But as we mark 21 years, one question remains constant: who has truly felt the impact?

Access vs. Learning: The Infrastructure Boom

By 2024, Nigeria boasts over 266,000 basic education institutions. On paper, this expansion is impressive. But if you step into many of these schools, you’ll find a different story– overcrowded classrooms, broken furniture, leaking roofs and sometimes, no teachers at all. The retention rate of students keeps dropping due to lack of a conducive environment for learning. 

UBEC may have succeeded in putting up buildings, but the harder task is ensuring those buildings offer a safe, stimulating space to learn. 

Rising Enrollment – and a Silent Dropout Crisis

Enrollment in basic education increased by 18% between 2014 and 2018– a hopeful statistic. But rising enrollment doesn’t always mean sustained learning. Dropout rates remain alarmingly high, especially in rural communities, and girls are still more likely to be pulled out of school due to early marriage or domestic responsibilities. 

Teachers on Paper, but not in Practice

UBEC has launched programs like Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE), and implemented the use of Jolly Phonics to strengthen teaching capacity. Yet, the core problem remains: Nigeria has far too little qualified teachers, and even fewer who receive continuous professional development. Most are underpaid, overwhelmed, and unsupported.

The teacher is the heart of the classroom. Without strong investment in their wellbeing, training, and career growth, even the best curricula will fail.

Special Programme, Unequal Impact

Intervention programs for the girl-child, Almajiri, and out-of-school youth show that UBEC recognises systemic inequality. But implementation often stops at policy documents. Political will and local follow-through remain inconsistent. So we must ask– are we designing for impact, or just announcing it? 

Identifying the Gaps

For all its ambition, the Universal Basic Education system in Nigeria remains deeply uneven. While UBEC has provided a framework, policy alone hasn’t bridged the structural inequalities that keep millions of children out of school or trapped in under-resourced classrooms. Twenty-one years in, these are the cracks we can no longer ignore:

1. Funding Gaps and Misuse of Resources

The UBE Act provides that 2% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund be allocated to basic education. But access to those funds is conditional: state governments must provide a matching grant to draw down their share. Many do not.

This has led to billions in unused funds sitting idle at UBEC — while classrooms crumble, and teachers go unpaid. The problem isn’t always funding. Often, it’s the political will to access and use it effectively.

2. Regional and Gender Inequities

The quality and accessibility of basic education varies wildly across Nigeria. Northern states still lag behind on girl-child enrollment and retention. Conflict, insecurity, and poverty further widen the gap.

National averages mask deep disparities — between urban and rural schools, between boys and girls, and between state responses. Equity has never truly been universal.

3. Lack of Local Ownership

Top-down implementation has left many communities feeling like spectators in their own children’s education. School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) exist in name, but in many places, they lack the training, resources, or authority to hold schools accountable.

4. Learning Outcomes Are Still Poor

Even among enrolled students, learning outcomes are discouraging. Many children complete primary school without basic literacy or numeracy skills. There’s growing access, but not enough comprehension.

A functional education system must not only keep children in classrooms. It must teach them well. On that front, UBEC still has work to do.

Reimagining Basic Education: The Way Forward

At 21, UBEC stands at a critical crossroads. It has proven that large-scale education reform is possible. Now, it must prove that it can be equitable, impactful, and community-driven. The next chapter must move beyond policy checklists — toward real transformation that puts the learner at the centre.

1. Rethink Funding Structures

It's time to revisit the conditional grant system. Rather than allowing billions to remain unused because states fail to match funds, UBEC and the federal government should explore performance-based funding, with clear accountability mechanisms and flexible disbursement models. No child should be punished for a state’s inefficiency.

2. Strengthen Data and Transparency

We need accurate, real-time data. It is impossible to fix what we cannot see.. UBEC must work with state agencies, NGOs, and independent monitors to improve the tracking of enrollment, attendance, learning outcomes, and funding usage. Public dashboards and open reporting could empower citizens to follow the money — and the metrics.

3. Invest in Teachers as a Priority

Teachers must be seen not as tools but as nation-builders. Beyond training, UBEC should push for better pay, professional development pathways, and more humane workloads. Retaining passionate educators is essential to repairing classroom experiences.

4. Centre Communities in Decision-Making

Education works best when it reflects local realities. Community engagement should not be a checkbox. SBMCs and parents should be involved in everything from school construction to monitoring teacher attendance to curriculum feedback. Ownership breeds sustainability.

5. Let Learning Outcomes Guide Reform

If a child can’t read or do basic math by the end of primary school, the system has failed — regardless of how many buildings were constructed. We must re-centre our national conversation on what children are actually learning. The real victory isn’t access alone — it’s ability.

In Conclusion: A Promise Worth Fighting For

UBEC at 21 is more than a milestone — it’s a mirror. It reflects our aspirations, our progress, and our unfinished business. If we are bold enough to confront the gaps, and committed enough to fill them, Nigeria can still build an education system where no child is invisible.

Basic education is not a gift. It is a right. And rights must be protected, funded, and fulfilled — not just promised.