Opinion
UBEC: Working the Talk to Achieve Basic Education in Nigeria,
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF.
To achieve Basic and Junior Secondary Schools Education, a lot of efforts is needed routinely towards attaining laudable initiatives been put in place by the leadership of the agency, under Dr Hamid Bobboyi.
Aside funding and Infrastructural development, manpower development has been a corrolary towards ensuring the SDGs Goals 4 is realizable.
Moving gradually towards decades of action tagged by the United Nations sustainable development goals as 2020-2030 Agenda, that is geared towards the realization of all needed requirements by developing and underdeveloped countries towards attaining SDGs Goals, both in socio-economic, political, health , education and well-being of citizens.
In line with these objectives, the Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC in Nigeria had redoubled efforts to eradicate the engagement of non- qualified teachers both at the Basic Education and Junior Secondary Schools prevalent at the state governments level and the private schools .
The ugly development continues rearing it’s head inspite of the huge investment and quantum contributions been carried out by the commission in assisting both state and local government that formed the core of sub-nationals.
Since the quality of teachers been engaged at the Basic Education and Junior Secondary Schools cannot be compromised, the desire to engage qualified ones should not be overemphasized, in line with the provision of the act and SDGs interventions Goals 4 .
Since the basic requirements for engagement of teachers at the primary schools level and Junior Secondary Schools in line with the requirements of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), remained National Certificate in Education (NCE), anything short of it negates the standard requirements all over both Basic Education and Junior Secondary Schools.
But , for lack of commitment and diligence on the part of states and local governments, the practice geared towards maximizing funds against the lay down procedures has become a corrolary to the delivery of quantitative rather than qualitative education.
Speaking at different fora , the Executive Secretary, Chief Executive Officer ES CEO of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) lamented the unrepentant template drew by both states and local governments as well as the private schools to sustain the negative trend.
He has continued to preach against the unethical standards that is capable of eroding the delivery of Basic Education in the country in line with the UBEC act and the UN SDGs.
Hence in his series of contributions and remarks , he averred as follows ….
“The Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi has lamented that one of the challenges being faced in basic education in Nigeria is the recruitment of unqualified teachers.”
“He said this was happening in spite of the efforts by the Federal Government and other stakeholders to ensure standards and support for the provision of quality teachers in the country.”
“Speaking at a conference with the theme ‘Transforming Teacher Professional Development for Improving Learning Outcomes at Basic Education Level’ held in Abuja, Bobboyi said it was sad to find that some teachers in schools are holders of the First School Leaving Certificate.”
“He added that a lot of the teachers recruited by some state governments and private schools are also holders of Basic Education Certificate, Senior Secondary School Certificate, Associate Certificate in Education, and Diploma Certificate.”
“Meanwhile, the national policy on education prescribes the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) as the minimum teaching qualification in the country, while the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has been in the forefront of enforcing this with minimal success.”
“This is because some state governments believe that education is in the concurrent list and as such they could determine who they recruit to teach in their schools, especially where reports have indicated that recruitment of teachers and engagement of other workers in some states is dependent on “political patronage.”
“He noted that the impressive attendance at the event by stakeholders was a reflection of the concern shared over the low learning outcomes at the foundational level of education on which the higher levels are expected to stand.”
“A number of studies show that basic education learners are weak, especially in the basic functional skills of literacy, numeracy and life skills. It is generally believed that teachers at this level of education are not only in short supply, but are ill-prepared to effectively implement the curriculum,” Bobboyi said.
“According to him, a teacher’s preparation is in two phases: pre-service and in-service (professional development), explaining that the former is predominantly theoretical and the latter practical.”
“He noted that “it is expected to bridge the gap between theory and practice as well as keep the teacher abreast of changes in the subject knowledge and pedagogical skills in a rapidly changing technology-driven world.”
“He reminded the audience at the event that schooling goes beyond attendance and moving across the classes to graduation, saying it is more about the quality of learning – knowledge, skills, attitudes and values acquired and the ability of learners to apply them as they journey through life.”
“While underscoring the importance of Teacher Professional Development (TPD), Bobboyi noted that it is the teacher who facilitates learning and to perform the task effectively; he/she needs to attain a certain level of competency at the end of his pre-service training and to also build on it continuously throughout his/her teaching career.”
He said: “Ideally, teachers are expected to regularly and continuously undergo professional development. As we are aware, knowledge is dynamic and the teacher in particular is expected to keep abreast of knowledge development in his subject area by unlearning stale and outdated knowledge, while learning and relearning new knowledge.”
“The way things are done is also constantly changing due to technological development. The teacher is expected to acquire new teaching skills as they unfold and have the capacity to use the technological tools which are increasingly changing the way teaching is done and how learning takes place.”
“These are areas, among others, that the continuing professional development is expected to expose the teacher to in order to improve his/her competence and capacity to effect a quality learning.”
“For example, the UBEC 2022 National Personnel Audit, NPA, reveals that 67.5% of teachers in public schools and 85.3% in private schools have not attended any in-service training in 5 years (2018-2022). This prevailing situation has implications for quality education delivery.”
“The Federal Government, through UBEC, has contributed a total of N57,165,751,416.12 as assistance to the States for teacher professional development between 2009 and 2022.”
“This is grossly inadequate to cover the training needs of the teachers. The States that are being assisted have come to depend largely on the Federal Government fund for their TPD, with little or no contribution. This is a major challenge in assuring quality learning outcomes at basic education level.”
“There is also the challenge of the quality of the training conducted in the states which makes no impact at the school level. Teachers who attend training activities are unable to put into practice what they learnt. The institutions engaged by States to train their teachers generally adopt a one-size-fits-all approach without due consideration for training needs, teaching environment, teachers’ background and subject specialisation. Coaching and mentoring at school levels, which can fill gaps in content knowledge and pedagogical skills, are either non-existent or weak.”
“Similarly, quality assurance and teacher support services at the State level are also weak. The real issue we should discuss at this Conference is whether we can continue doing the same thing over and over with the hope that we will get a different result.”
“From 2009 when the Federal Government has been supporting States in Teacher Professional Development implementation, we cannot say that we have been able to achieve the desired objectives.”
“A lot of resources have been deployed to this sector and yet this has not been reflected in learners’ achievement. It is time for us to review our practice and approaches and ensure that the main objective for the introduction and implementation of TPD, which is to improve teacher and learner performance, is achieved for the benefit of the learners and the nation at large.”
“This is the central reason for organising this Conference. We need to discuss and come up with recommendations on what should be done differently towards transforming TPD for the improvement of teacher quality and, by implication, the learning outcomes,” the UBEC boss said.”
With determination, commitment and in accordance with the regulatory framework and policy thrust guiding the operation of the commission, no doubt the new approach will ameliorate the continuous enrollment of non -qualified personnel into the teaching profession in the country.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
Many teachers in basic education
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
On assumption of duty in January, 2025 , the new Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Boss and well grounded World Bank expert , Aisha Garba envisaged the need to reposition the Basic Education through interfacing with the critical stakeholders.
Amongst them is the office of the National Security Adviser , NSA, led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu whose achievements in the last few years in the area of security has become distinct and outstanding.
Therefore, seeking to cooperate and collaborate with the office became germane and needful particularly the protection of lives and properties of actors in the promotion of Basic Education ranging from the pupils , teachers , workers and facilitators to enable it drive the new wave to curb Out of School Children OOSC in the country.
Aside providing the basic security arrangements for schools , the need to engage the security apparatus at the level of National Security Adviser NSA became needful, so as to address the sophistry of security problems in the country, to nip in the bud any unforseen circumstances.
With the high rates of kidnappings, abduction , banditry, cattle rustling, ritual tendencies among many other vices, the idea of bringing on board , the security architecture of the country in all ramifications will assist the commission to consolidate the implementation of Basic Education policies and programs, also introduce new ones .
Since pupils at the Primary, Junior Secondary and Secondary Schools are prone to such ugly development and security issues , the need to be proactive on the part of the commission became timely and desiring.
This led to the success story of the bilateral interface between the management of the commission and NSA, to streamline, perfect and chart a new course on the issue of security of actors in the Basic Education.
The visit described as timely and long overdue, discussed fruitfully the way forward and the immediate and long term intervention of both agencies in the area of collaboration.
According to the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba she stated by discussing” strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing educational access and security in Nigeria. ”
She further said” the engagement focused on strategies to address challenges such as the safety of schools, particularly in vulnerable regions, and the promotion of equitable education for all children.”
“the meeting highlighted the critical intersection between education and national security and the need for collaboration between UBEC and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on improving access to basic education and safety of safety schools across the nation. ”
“This collaboration underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a secure and inclusive learning environment as part of its broader agenda to strengthen the nation’s educational framework,” it added.
“UBEC boss had pledged to engage critical stakeholders to break down barriers to education and create inclusive learning opportunities for children across the six geopolitical regions of the country.”
“She said: “My goal is to deliver on this mandate which includes strengthening collaboration, partnerships and institutional learning for effective service delivery. ”
“Together, we will work to increase access, improve quality, provide conducive and safe learning environments, supply adequate teaching and learning materials, and adopt the concept of ‘best fit’ in addressing specific basic education challenges, state by state and region by region”.
Highlights of the program which included the engagement of both bodies with a commitment to ensure the introduction of security architecture in schools in Nigeria is achievable.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
By Stephen Adewale
This rejoinder is a response to a column that graced the pages of the Nigerian Tribune on March 16, 2025, titled “Nasir El-Rufai and the Philosophy of Nothing.” The piece was penned by none other than Festus Adedayo, one of my cherished wordsmiths, a maestro of prose whose pen drips with both wit and wisdom.
Adedayo has long held a prime spot in my literary affections for reasons beyond mere admiration. First, we both hail from the illustrious Akure Oloyemekun, a shared heritage that makes his brilliance a source of personal pride. There is something uniquely gratifying about watching a kinsman wield the pen with such devastating elegance, weaving words as effortlessly as a bard conjuring magic. Second, in an era where original thinkers are as scarce as rain in the heart of harmattan, Adedayo stands tall as a relic of intellectual abundance. His columns have, for years, been my weekly ritual, a delectable dish of analysis served with just the right amount of audacity.
Regrettably, the unrelenting demands of academia had deprived me of Adedayo’s literary ambrosia for the past three weeks. Resolute in my quest for redemption, I consecrated my Sunday morning to devouring Adedayo’s recent columns, much like a parched wanderer stumbling upon an oasis of forbidden wisdom. And then, lo and behold, the last paragraph of the aforementioned column stopped me in my tracks. It was not just a paragraph; it was a gauntlet thrown, a provocation that demanded and commanded a response. And so, here I am, pen in hand, ready to engage.
In the preceding paragraphs, Adedayo took great pains to dissect El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP, wielding the philosophy of nothingness like a sculptor chiselling away at what he believed to be a futile political move. He argued, with the confidence of a man who has peered into the future, that El-Rufai’s new political adventure would amount to precisely nothing. Fair enough. He is entitled to his opinions, and I bear him no grudge for his gloomy prophecy. After all, time is the ultimate arbiter of political fortunes.
However, just when one thought the column was a masterclass in political critique, Adedayo took a reckless detour in the final paragraph, committing what can only be described as a literary felony. In one fell swoop, he attempted a hatchet job on the political integrity of SDP’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, Adewole Adebayo. Quoting him, he said ‘my excitement at the potentials of SDP as a viable opposition suffered a momentary halt almost immediately that same last week. Adewole Adebayo, 2023 presidential candidate…had come on an interview session on a national television. I had heard of his trumped up brilliance from journalists who earlier interviewed him.’
To begin with, Adedayo’s statement exposes one of two possibilities; either he is woefully out of touch with the political landscape or he is deliberately peddling falsehoods in service of some unseen paymaster. Or how else can one explain his audacious claim that he had never encountered Adewole Adebayo’s interviews on national television before the week in question?
Adebayo has been a towering presence in the public space since January 2022, when he declared his presidential ambition. He has graced national television countless times, dissecting policies with the precision of a seasoned statesman, not merely critiquing but offering well-reasoned alternatives. His interviews have been clipped, shared, and dissected across social media, yet Festus Adedayo, an otherwise astute columnist, would have us believe that he only stumbled upon Adebayo’s rhetoric through second hand whispers from journalist friends. The claim is as implausible as it is suspicious, making one wonder if his sudden epiphany was less of an honest discovery and more of a scripted hit job.
Then he went on to claim that ‘at that interview session, gradually, Adebayo defrosted all those superlatives with which he was robed. By the time the interview session ended, in place of a huge turkey with huge feathers I expected to encounter, I was left with a species of hen Yoruba call “Adiye opipi”. This type of hen is known by a unique characteristic of featherless wings. Adebayo came across as this and much more. I saw a man who delights in a horse ride that takes place on the back of a cockroach. When you see such politicians, your mind races to a spent canister.’
There is a Yoruba adage that warns, “Ibi tó yẹ ká tíbá ọgbọ́n, a ò gbùdó bá àgò nbẹ,” meaning that where one expects wisdom, it would be a grave disappointment to find foolishness instead. Unfortunately, this perfectly captures the bewildering blunder committed by Festus Adedayo.
One would assume that a seasoned columnist of his caliber would back his scathing critique with substance. At least a direct quote or a reference to the supposedly underwhelming statement that shattered his lofty expectations of Adewole Adebayo would suffice. Yet, in a display of either intellectual laziness or calculated deception, Adedayo offers none.
Since he conveniently avoids mentioning the specific interview that triggered his so-called disappointment, and given that Adebayo only appeared on Arise TV’s breakfast show during the week in question, it is clear that Adedayo was referring to that particular session. However, rather than provide any real context, he chose to shroud the event in ambiguity, hoping to mislead the unsuspecting public. Since he won’t do the honours, it is only right to offer a brief, unvarnished account of what truly transpired during the interview he so artfully distorted.
A few days before the said interview, Ayo of Arise TV blatantly misled viewers by falsely claiming that Adewole Adebayo had betrayed his supporters before the 2023 elections, endorsing President Tinubu and urging his followers to do the same. She went further, labelling him a politician devoid of principle.
When Adebayo finally appeared on Arise TV, he firmly set the record straight. He ran the race to the very end, never endorsed Tinubu, and never worked for the APC government, despite numerous inducements. He rightfully demanded an apology, but Ayo stood her ground. However, when the Arise TV crew presented what they called “evidence,” it backfired spectacularly, proving Adebayo right and exposing their deception. It was a textbook case of attempted character assassination gone embarrassingly wrong.
So, this was the interview that left Festus Adedayo “disappointed” in Adebayo, an interview where a man stood his ground against blatant falsehoods. When a self-proclaimed crusader of truth suddenly finds fault in someone defending himself against lies, perhaps it’s time to scrutinise the so-called champion of integrity. When a supposed high priest of truth suddenly takes issue with a man standing firm against lies, perhaps the high priest’s own altar is due for inspection.
Rather than call out Arise TV for their desperate attempt at character assassination, our esteemed “writer of truth” chose the path of deception by conveniently omitting the actual events. Instead of holding liars accountable, he doubled down, subtly trying to drag a principled man deeper into the mud. If this is what passes for truth-telling, then perhaps Festus Adedayo has been writing fiction all along.
Festus Adedayo, in his infinite journalistic wisdom, managed to compress the entire essence of a man’s political ideology, years of intellectual engagement, and national contributions into the span of one interview. A man whose intellectual sagacity had only been whispered to him in passing by his journalist friends, yet he deemed himself qualified to pass a grand verdict!
His article, ostensibly about the SDP, quickly revealed itself as something else entirely; a well-tailored hit piece, stitched together with just enough cynicism to fulfill the desires of some lurking, unnamed paymaster. He spent paragraph after paragraph dismissing the SDP as an unworthy alternative, regardless of who joined, and then, as the grand finale, he wielded his last paragraph like a dagger to stab the reputation of the very man who has kept the party afloat since 2023. If there was ever a masterclass in agenda-driven writing disguised as political analysis, Adedayo just delivered it with the precision of a seasoned mercenary.
Criticism, when wielded with sincerity, serves as a scalpel, precise, constructive, and capable of refining its subject. But when used recklessly, it becomes a sledgehammer, destructive, indiscriminate, and serving no purpose beyond ruin. At a time when Nigeria teeters on the edge of existential crises, what we need are columnists who illuminate the path forward, not those who revel in the theatrics of demolition.
This is why it is profoundly disheartening to see Festus Adedayo, once a beacon in the murky waters of Nigerian columnists, take a detour into the alley of agenda-peddling. Nigeria is not merely in need of critics; it is in need of honest critics. It is in need of voices that challenge, correct, and inspire, not those who merely regurgitate the cynicism that has already poisoned our media space.
I have always admired Festus Adedayo, but his portrayal of Adewole Adebayo is a painful reminder that even the brightest stars can flicker. To watch someone we once held as a paragon of journalistic integrity stumble into the company of the ethically compromised is not just disappointing, it is a national tragedy. If even the ‘good ones’ can abandon sincerity for sensationalism, then truly, the night is darker than we feared.
*Stephen Adewale writes from the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University*