The Lagos State Government has affirmed its readiness to collaborate with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to enhance the quality of basic education and operationalise a new Smart Model School built by the commission in Badagry.
The commitment was made on Saturday during a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary and Board Members of UBEC to the state government at the Roundhouse, Alausa, Ikeja. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, stressed that education is the foundation of national development and must remain a top priority.
“In 2025, no child in Nigeria should be left out of school,” Dr. Hamzat stated on behalf of the governor. “Education should not be about region or culture, or tradition; it is a fundamental right. If we get primary education right, the future of our children will be secure.”
The partnership will focus on the newly constructed UBEC Smart Model School located at Iworo-Ajido, Badagry. Aisha Garba, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, stated that the commission is seeking the state government’s support to make the significant investment functional and sustainable.
She detailed that the school, one of the largest built by UBEC, has the capacity to accommodate nearly one thousand students and is equipped with advanced technological facilities, including computers and interactive smart boards.
“We built the Smart School at Iworo-Ajido, Badagry,” Garba explained. “It’s very important that we partner together to see how we can sustain that investment in terms of ensuring teachers are recruited by the state, also to ensure that at least there’s transportation for students, as well as ensuring the security in that particular school.”
In response, the state government pledged its commitment to providing qualified teachers, robust security, and the completion of all necessary infrastructure for the model school.
The UBEC Executive Secretary lauded Lagos State as a leader in achieving positive educational outcomes in the country. She noted that the commission deliberately chose to host its quarterly management meeting in Lagos to allow other State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) to study and learn from the “Lagos model.”
“When it comes to education, Lagos is leading in outcomes,” Garba said. “We want to really work with you to see how this particular model can be replicated.”
She also called for a stronger partnership with Lagos in engaging the private sector, noting that the state has one of the largest and most effective private education service sectors in Nigeria. UBEC hopes to encourage similar low-cost private school development in neighbouring states to improve poor learning outcomes observed elsewhere.
Governor Advocates for National Peer Review and Data-Driven Planning
Beyond the immediate collaboration, Governor Sanwo-Olu called for a national peer-review mechanism facilitated by UBEC to allow for real-time knowledge sharing among states. He suggested that best practices from Lagos and other successful regions could be replicated nationwide.
He also commended UBEC’s new flexible funding model, which allows states to apply resources based on their specific needs rather than a rigid, “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Furthermore, the governor advised education stakeholders to adopt data-driven planning, increase attention to special needs education, and implement proactive health checks for pupils, such as vision and hearing assessments, to ensure no child is left behind. Citing the history of Badagry as a former slave route, he emphasized that a robust educational system is crucial for Nigeria to secure its self-sufficiency and never again depend on external powers for its progress.
