“No Child Left Behind”: UBEC Launches Nationwide School Kit Rollout to Tackle Out-of-School Crisis
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Aisha Garba, has declared that no Nigerian child should be left behind in accessing basic education, as she flagged off the national rollout of the Learners Support Programme in Makurdi, Benue State.
Speaking at the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board Basic Education Summit, Garba described the initiative as a decisive response to Nigeria’s persistent out-of-school crisis. The programme will see the nationwide distribution of 1,155,900 school kits, including bags, sandals, pencils and exercise books, targeted at vulnerable children from low-income households.
From a child protection perspective, access to education is a critical safeguard. Children who are out of school face heightened risks of child labour, early marriage, trafficking, recruitment into armed groups and other forms of exploitation. Education provides structure, supervision and long-term protection.
Garba stressed that the right to free and compulsory education is guaranteed under the Universal Basic Education Act, yet millions remain excluded due to poverty, insecurity and weak infrastructure. She noted that reforms within UBEC have improved access to matching grants by over 80 percent nationwide, strengthening state-level delivery.
Beyond materials, she called for stronger community mobilisation, improved school security, incentives for girls’ education and inclusive teacher training.
Garba emphasised that safeguarding children requires collaboration beyond government alone. “Combating out-of-school children requires bold innovation, urgent action, and genuine collaboration,” she said, reaffirming UBEC’s commitment to ensuring children enrol, remain and complete basic education.
