UBEC Rolls Out Multi-Billion Naira Plan to Return Out-of-School Children to Classrooms

Nigeria’s education authorities have unveiled a new intervention aimed at reducing the growing number of children who are not enrolled in school, with fresh funding and community-driven projects at its core.

The initiative, led by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), will channel over ₦5 billion into grassroots education efforts across hundreds of communities. The programme is designed to improve access to schooling by supporting local projects that encourage enrolment and retention of children.

According to officials, the scheme will be implemented in more than 500 communities spread across the country, with each state and the Federal Capital Territory expected to benefit. The funding will be used to execute targeted interventions, including school improvements and awareness campaigns to bring children back into the education system.

Education stakeholders say the effort is part of a broader push to tackle Nigeria’s out-of-school crisis, which remains one of the most pressing challenges in the sector. The commission expressed optimism that the new approach, which emphasizes community participation, will help attract a significant number of children back into classrooms and strengthen basic education nationwide.