By Erewunmi Peace

Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, has raised alarm over what she described as a “crisis of great magnitude” confronting Nigeria’s education sector.

Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting co-hosted by UBEC and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja, Dr. Garba highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated response to reverse the alarming decline in foundational learning and school attendance nationwide.

According to her, Nigeria is home to over 20 million out-of-school children, as estimated by UNESCO—the highest number globally. She further stressed that even students within the school system are not acquiring the necessary literacy and numeracy skills expected at their levels.

“The foundational education sub-sector is facing a crisis of great magnitude. We need aggressive, evidence-based, and sustainable action,” she stated.

In response to the crisis, the Federal Government has launched a new intervention program, HOPE-EDU, a $552 million initiative funded in partnership with the World Bank and Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The program aims to:

Improve foundational learning outcomes,

Significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children,

Promote inclusive, equitable, and quality basic education across states.

Governors at the meeting, including Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji, echoed the UBEC boss’s concerns and pledged state-level support for the initiative.

Why It Matters:
Education experts warn that if left unaddressed, Nigeria’s learning crisis could have long-term consequences on national development, youth empowerment, and poverty reduction.

The HOPE-EDU program is expected to roll out in phases across participating states, with strong monitoring mechanisms to ensure accountability and measurable impact.