The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) says it has facilitated the release and utilisation of more than ₦100 billion in previously unaccessed matching grants by states and the Federal Capital Territory, marking a major boost for basic education development across Nigeria.

UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, disclosed this during a media luncheon with education correspondents in Abuja, describing the achievement as a significant step in advancing the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda for education.

Garba said the commission is implementing a results-driven strategy under its 2025–2031 Strategic Blueprint, aimed at improving access to quality basic education, strengthening learning outcomes and expanding opportunities for millions of Nigerian children.

She noted that the newly accessed funds are being deployed to upgrade school infrastructure, support teacher development and enhance the learning environment nationwide.

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According to the E.S, UBEC’s partnership with State Universal Basic Education Boards has led to the construction of more than 4,600 classrooms and the renovation of over 6,100 others.

The commission has also provided 2,780 toilets, 678 boreholes and more than 334,000 pieces of school furniture, while establishing over 2,300 Early Childhood Care Development and Education Centres across the country.

The Executive Secretary highlighted teacher development as a key priority, revealing that UBEC has invested over ₦20.4 billion in professional training programmes. She said the intervention is designed to improve classroom instruction, strengthen school leadership and promote accountability through the Effective Schools Programme and School-Based Management Committees.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria ( ECAN), Chux Ukwato, and Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalist, FCT council, comrade Grace Ike, emphasized importance of media engagement in promoting and showcasing achievements of the commission, calling for more synergy between ECAN and UBEC

Oluwabukolami Adeyemi, the overall best student in the 2023 Cambridge IGCSE and AS Level Examinations, has added another remarkable feat to her academic journey by graduating with a First-Class Honours degree in Law from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom.

Adeyemi’s outstanding performance in the 2023 Cambridge examinations, where she emerged top among over 100 participants from more than 100 countries, earned her widespread acclaim both in Nigeria and internationally.

Prominent figures, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, publicly commended the young scholar for her exceptional academic excellence.

Hailing from Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, Adeyemi was received in August 2023 by the then Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, at the Government House. In recognition of her achievements, Bello awarded her a full scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, and living expenses for her undergraduate studies in the UK.

The former governor’s investment has yielded impressive results. Adeyemi recently graduated with First-Class honours in Law, justifying the confidence reposed in her.

Elated by her success, Yahaya Bello has offered the academic standout another scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in the United Kingdom.

In an emotional video message, Adeyemi expressed heartfelt gratitude to the former governor, describing him as “God sent to humanity.”

Her father, Olumide Adeyemi, also conveyed deep appreciation, noting that Bello’s intervention ensured his daughter’s academic brilliance was not dimmed by financial constraints.

“Despite her sterling academic ingenuity, it would have been difficult for me to guarantee the actualisation of her dreams of foreign education,” Engr. Adeyemi said. He added that Bello’s gesture has benefited many other students and prayed for the former governor’s continued good health and fulfilment of his aspirations.

The scholarship was formally fulfilled in September 2023, following Adeyemi’s receipt of the prestigious Cambridge award for recording the highest scores in the 2022/2023 IGCSE and AS Level Examinations across 146 countries.

By Christian ABURIME

In a strong validation of institutional transparency and accountability, Anambra State has attained the highest possible “100% Healthy” rating in the latest Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria Subnational Status Ranking released in July 2026.

The ranking evaluates participating states across a rigorous nine-point framework that measures genuine openness, accountability, and citizen engagement in governance. Anambra’s perfect score reflects full compliance and strong performance across all assessed criteria, based on verifiable actions rather than declarations.

Under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, the state has embedded a culture of structured governance that prioritises systems, predictability, and measurable results. The OGP assessment highlights Anambra’s political will, resource commitment, and consistent implementation of open government reforms.

“This rating is not an isolated achievement but the natural outcome of a deliberate approach to public administration,” sources familiar with the state’s reforms noted. Governor Soludo’s background as an economist and institution-builder has shaped policies that favour enduring structures over short-term visibility.

The state’s performance aligns with broader gains in service delivery, including notable improvements in primary healthcare that have earned recognition from international partners such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, and Médecins Sans Frontières.

A “100% Healthy” status signals to investors, development partners, and citizens that Anambra’s regulatory, fiscal, and accountability mechanisms are robust and operational. It positions the state as one of the few in Nigeria with independently verified governance architecture that emphasises transparency as a core operating principle.

The OGP framework operates in continuous cycles of commitment, co-creation, and implementation. Officials say Anambra’s leadership is focused on sustaining and deepening these reforms rather than resting on the current achievement.

In a political landscape often dominated by rhetoric, Anambra’s verified success underscores the compounding value of credibility built on measurable processes. The state continues its upward trajectory, reinforcing its reputation for commercial dynamism and sound governance.