By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, has identified Delta State’s technology-driven teacher attendance system as an innovation offering valuable lessons for states across Nigeria seeking to strengthen accountability and improve learning outcomes.
Dr. Garba said the Attend360 platform, which monitors teacher attendance, demonstrates how technology can address one of the most fundamental requirements for effective education which is ensuring teachers are present and actively engaged in the classroom.
“There is no education or quality learning without a good teacher, or without a teacher in the classroom”. “You can build as many schools as you want, but as long as there is no teacher and a good teacher in the classroom, learning will not take place,” she said.
The UBEC boss spoke during a courtesy visit to the Delta State Government, represented by Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, as part of activities marking the 30th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), held in Asaba.
She said Delta was chosen to host the meeting in recognition of the progress recorded in its education sector, particularly its use of technology to strengthen school management, teacher attendance and accountability.
The meeting themed “Repositioning Basic Education in Nigeria to Optimise Investment and Impact,” brought together UBEC management and SUBEB Chairmen from across the country to examine how investment, innovation and effective implementation can deliver greater impact in basic education.
The Executive Secretary commended Delta for its strong record in accessing UBE matching grants, noting that the state had accessed its grant up to 2025 and remained among those setting the pace nationally in basic education.
She, however, urged the state to ensure that available UBEC funds are fully utilised and approved programmes implemented promptly, stressing that investment in education must ultimately translate into better facilities, stronger teaching and improved learning outcomes.
She also encouraged Delta state to position itself to benefit from the education component of the HOPE Education Programme, a World Bank-supported intervention with up to $500 million earmarked for education. She explained that participating states are required to access.
Responding, Deputy Governor Onyeme assured UBEC that Delta would continue improving its education system to make quality education accessible to more citizens. He clarified that updated records showed the state had approximately ₦1 billion in unutilised funds, not ₦8 billion, as earlier referenced and disclosed that Delta had implemented about 90 per cent of its 2025 Action Plan and had already received its 2026 matching grant.
Describing education as one of Delta’s major areas of investment, the Deputy Governor pledged continued improvement.
“We will continue to do our best to ensure that we give education to as many citizens as possible,” he said.
The engagement on strengthening basic education continued during a separate courtesy visit to the Asagba of Asaba, HRM Prof. Epiphany Azinge, where Dr. Garba underscored the role of traditional institutions and other stakeholders in advancing the national education agenda. She said UBEC’s goal is to ensure that every Nigerian child, regardless of location, circumstance or family background, has the opportunity to receive quality basic education.
Dr. Garba also acknowledged the Asagba’s support for education initiatives in Delta, including efforts around smart schools, and called for stronger collaboration among traditional institutions, government and education agencies.
In his response, the Asagba described basic education as the foundation on which Nigeria’s future is built, noting that it is at this stage that children are nurtured, trained and prepared for the challenges ahead. He stressed the importance of quality teachers in primary schools, noting that the quality of teachers ultimately determines the quality of people the education system produces.
“If you have quality teachers, you produce quality people,” he said.
He urged UBEC and the SUBEB Chairmen to confront the challenges facing basic education honestly and to develop robust, practical solutions, insisting that no child including those with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds should be left behind.
Reflecting on the engagements with the Delta State Government and the Asagba of Asaba, the UBEC Boss said the priority now is to ensure that investments, innovations and commitments across the states translate into real improvements in classrooms and better learning outcomes for children.
She assured Nigerians that UBEC will continue working with states, traditional institutions and other stakeholders, providing the technical support and collaboration needed to strengthen basic education nationwide.
