The desire to impact and improve modest Basic Education cannot be overemphasized, hence the move by the Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC to involve both national and multinational organizations which included Ministries, Departments and Agencies became timely .
This was at the backdrop of the commission’s synergy with the anti graft agencies like the ICPC, EFCC, code of conduct bureau to protect any unforseen development regarding its new moves to boost the funding base of Basic Education in Nigeria.
The new moves will not only be restricted to National and Multinationals which included super government agencies, but the organized private sector that had contributed alot to both the infrastructure , economic and social development as well as rejuvenation of the country.
The multi billion tax credit grant by Dangote, BUA and other Multinationals on roads including their investments in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through distribution of foods and other items to mitigate the economic hardships and hunger to Nigerians was enough impetus to support our early Education, since our children are the leaders of tomorrow.
The pursuit for amendment of the over two decades UBEC act to attract more funding was not only meant to support Basic Education, but improve on it to meeting the demands of the 21st century in line with its roadmap and SDGs.
The recent moves by the management of the agency under the leadership of Dr Hamid Bobboyi as the Executive Secretary was the right step in the right direction to the Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan led committee of Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board NCDMB, capable of attracting funding from the agency and other Multinationals to funding Basic Education in the country.
Aside the NCDMB, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, the Nigeria Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority,NMDPRA, the Nigeria Upstream, Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, Nigeria Maritime Management and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and National Pension Commission, PENCOM among many other high profile government revenue generating agencies are expected not to be left out in the quest to attract funding to Basic Education, as applicable in both developing and developed countries.
This was occasioned by paucity of funds , myriads of government commitment in the areas of funding other sectors, as well as the need to reposition Basic Education and it’s operations in Nigeria.
Many of these agencies have idle funds lying down unutilized, but been siphoned into personal and private pockets , therefore the new moves by UBEC management was patriotic, desiring to achieve the goals of funding Basic Education.
Impressed by the visit and request for collaboration, the chairperson, Senate committee on content development appreciated the move by UBEC and promised to roll out actions that will not only attract Basic Education funding, but a permanent solution to the dearth of Basic Education in Nigeria.
The Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan led committee while attending the three day seminar organized by the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board NCDMB called for collaboration among government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to access its funds for the development of basic infrastructure like the Basic Education and by extension Education in Nigeria.
The moves by the Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC when consolidated will reduce to the barest minimum the scourge of inadequate funding and the need for more funds to access Basic Education among many of its programs in the country.
With these development, there is need for a legislation by government conscripting some of its high profile agencies into funding Basic Education in Nigeria.
*YUSUF writes from Abuja, can be reached on [email protected].
