The Senate Committee Chairman on Local Content, Senator Natasha H Akpoti -Uduaghan, on Thursday, received the management of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
The purpose of the meeting was for UBEC to seek Senator Natasha’s support in forming a partnership with the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for institutional strengthening.
The Deputy Executive Secretary of UBEC, Prof. Isiaka Olayinka Kolawole, who acknowledged the warm reception, said the meeting aimed at strengthening ongoing efforts to improve the standard of public primary and secondary schools across the federation.
According to him, the Commission has written to the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB and copied the senator’s office to help facilitate the partnership between UBEC and NCDMB. This partnership will allow UBEC to benefit from oil and gas institutional strengthening funds.
The funds will be used to build vocational education schools, SMART junior secondary schools, upgrade existing primary schools to SMART schools, and provide digital resources to enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian students globally.
Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan appreciated their concerns about the state of public schools, especially in finding innovative solutions to address the issue at hand.
She also pledged to ensure that all the stakeholders in the oil and gas industry comply with the policy to contribute their percentage towards strengthening Nigeria’s institutions, including primary and secondary schools.
She further pledged to present the proposal to NCDMB and ensure its consideration, highlighting the significance of collaborating between government agencies to support the digitisation of education and institutional strengthening from the basic education level.
Others in attendance include: Dr Ibrahim Bala, Head of IT, Chime Ikenson, Chief Accountant, Dr Aisha Abdul, Director of Special Programmes, and Muhammad Machido, Assistant Director of Procurement, amongst others.
(Observers time)
