By Abdullahi Jalalludeen
The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Aisha Garba, has urged participating states to demonstrate readiness for the implementation of Result Area One of the HOPE-EDU Programme by Nov. 15, 2026.
Garba made the call in Kano while declaring open a five-day Regional Book Supply Chain and Track ’N’ Trace System Thematic Workshop organised under the HOPE-EDU Programme.
She described the workshop as a defining moment in the collective efforts to strengthen the foundations of basic education in Nigeria, stressing that education remained a cornerstone of national development.
According to her, the Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank, is committed to ensuring that the HOPE-EDU Programme delivers qualitative outcomes and improves learning among Nigerian children.
She said the workshop was designed to equip state Ministries of Education and relevant officials with the tools, strategies and accountability mechanisms required to effectively implement the programme.
“The workshop on the book supply chain and Track ’N’ Trace System will ensure that quality materials reach the right schools and students with transparency and accountability at every stage,” she said.
Garba said Result Area One required states to ensure that every Nigerian child acquired the ability to read, write and count with confidence, noting that the structured pedagogy package and transparent book supply chain were critical components of the intervention.
She described Nov. 15, 2026, as a “hard deadline” for states to demonstrate readiness, stressing that compliance was necessary for unlocking the first round of programme disbursement.
“This is not negotiable. It is the gateway for unlocking the first round of programme disbursement and, more importantly, the future of our children,” she said.
The executive secretary commended the strong composition of the state delegations, comprising directors and officers from academic services, monitoring and evaluation, procurement, planning, research and statistics (PRS), as well as ICT and other relevant units.
She said the cross-functional representation reflected the whole-of-system approach required for successful implementation of the programme.
Garba urged participants to actively engage, exchange ideas and collaborate across states, stressing that the knowledge acquired at the workshop should translate into effective planning and implementation.
She said the workshop would also strengthen procurement, academic services and EMIS/ICT officers’ capacity to manage book supply chain and Track ’N’ Trace processes effectively.
She added that the training would enhance understanding and application of procurement and distribution best practices to promote timely, cost-effective, transparent and accountable delivery of teaching and learning materials to schools.
The executive secretary said participants would also be equipped with mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement through the effective use of key performance indicators (KPIs), reporting and feedback.
She expressed optimism that participants would return to their respective states better equipped to implement the HOPE-EDU Programme and deliver meaningful improvements in the quality of learning in schools.
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