Education

Bauchi Gov reaffirms commitment to basic education

Published

5 months ago

June 19, 2025

Mariam Abeeb

The Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to strengthening basic education .

He made this known during a working visit to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking during the visit, Governor Mohammed emphasized the critical importance of foundational learning, stating, “Without basic education, nothing works.”

He reiterated that his government remains resolute in advancing the basic education sector, describing it as the bedrock of societal transformation.

Highlighting Bauchi State’s educational reach, the Governor remarked, “Bauchi is one of the biggest states with access to education, so we also accommodate neighboring states.”

He expressed pride in the state’s role in expanding educational opportunities across the region.

Governor Mohammed commended the leadership of the UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, and praised the visible impact of UBEC’s interventions in Bauchi State.

He noted the state has been a significant beneficiary of the Commission’s initiatives, particularly the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) program.

“We have executed numerous projects through BESDA in areas such as infrastructure, enrollment, basic education, and human capital development,” the Governor stated, while also affirming that Bauchi remains fully up to date in accessing its UBEC matching grants—demonstrating a proactive approach to maximizing available educational resources.

The visit underscores Bauchi State’s continued leadership in educational reform and its productive partnership with UBEC in delivering inclusive, quality education to children within and beyond its borders.

In her remarks, Dr. Aisha Garba, Executive Secretary of UBEC, warmly welcomed Governor Mohammed and his entourage.

She expressed deep appreciation for the Governor’s strong leadership and notable achievements in basic education across Bauchi State.

Dr. Garba specifically lauded the construction of “mega schools” in the state, describing them as comparable to “smart schools” due to their state-of-the-art facilities and innovative learning environments.

She also commended the recruitment of qualified teachers as a pivotal step in improving education quality.

“Bauchi State stands out not just for accessing its UBEC matching grants but for utilizing them effectively to drive real change,” she noted. “This is a reflection of true commitment and accountability in the pursuit of educational excellence.”

UBEC reaffirmed its readiness to sustain and deepen its collaboration with Bauchi State, expressing confidence that their shared vision will continue to yield meaningful, long-term improvements in Nigeria’s basic education landscape.

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Education

Athena Centre Appointed to NGREN Board as Federal Government Deepens Data-Driven Governance

Published

1 day ago

November 29, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has been appointed to the Governing Board of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN)/Tertiary Education Research Applications and Services (TERAS). NgREN -Nigeria’s national research and education backbone – provides high-speed connectivity, shared digital services, and collaboration infrastructure for universities and research institutions, while TERAS powers the digital applications that support research, data exchange, and digital learning across the tertiary system.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the center’s Media and Communications Officer Paul Liam.

The new NgREN/TERAS Board was inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, at the Nigeria National EdTech Strategy Mid-Term Co-Creation Workshop, hosted with support from Mastercard Foundation and the World Bank Group.

The Board includes the Executive Secretaries of NUC, NBTE, NCCE, and TETFund; representatives of vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts; and major digital infrastructure stakeholders such as NCC, Galaxy Backbone, and USPF. The Athena Centre joins the Board as the civil society voice.

In his remarks, Dr. Alausa acknowledged the Centre’s role in shaping national transparency reforms, noting that the Ministry’s Federal Tertiary Institutions Governance Transparency Portal (FTIGTP) drew inspiration from Athena’s research and advocacy.

He expressed confidence that the reconstituted Board will deliver measurable improvements within two years to strengthen Nigeria’s research ecosystem and digital readiness.

Representing the Centre on the Board, its Chancellor, Chief Osita Chidoka, OFR, commended the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and evidence-based reform.Reaffirming the Ministry’s digital direction, Dr. Alausa stated: “For the first time, Nigeria is building a unified data architecture for basic, secondary, and tertiary institutions. You cannot reform what you cannot measure, and we are determined to measure what matters.”

Echoing the need for interoperability, Dr. Tijani emphasised the importance of shared digital infrastructure, noting:“Digital transformation fails when systems operate in silos. Our priority is a national architecture where platforms talk to each other and every school is connected.”

Chidoka welcomed the digital innovation underway but stressed the importance of deeper inclusion of state governments, who own and manage most Nigerian schools, in planning, implementation, and financing.

According to him:“For education to succeed, states must invest, lead, and commit. The Federal Government must coordinate and support, but it cannot carry the burden of school management alone.”

The Athena Centre reaffirmed its commitment to supporting federal and state governments in strengthening education data systems, digital governance, and transparent accountability.Media Contact:

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