The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, has described Delta State’s technology-driven teacher attendance system, Attend360, as a model that could be replicated across Nigeria to strengthen accountability and improve learning outcomes.
Ikharo Attah, the Special Adviser ( Media and Communications) disclosed this in a Statement on Tuesday, 11th August 2026.
Garba said the platform, which monitors teacher attendance, demonstrated how technology could be deployed to address one of the most critical challenges in basic education — ensuring that teachers are present and actively engaged in the classroom.
“There is no education or quality learning without a good teacher or without a teacher in the classroom. You can build as many schools as you want, but as long as there is no teacher, and a good teacher, in the classroom, learning will not take place,” she said.
The UBEC boss spoke during a courtesy visit to the Delta State Government, represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, in Asaba, as part of activities marking the 30th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).
The meeting, themed “Repositioning Basic Education in Nigeria to Optimise Investment and Impact,” brought together UBEC management and SUBEB chairmen from across the country to examine ways of improving investment, innovation and implementation in the basic education sector.
Garba said Delta State was selected to host the meeting because of the progress it had recorded in education, particularly in the use of technology to improve school management, teacher attendance and accountability.
She also commended the state for its record in accessing the UBE matching grants, noting that Delta had accessed its matching grant up to 2025 and was among states making significant progress in basic education.
However, she urged the state government to ensure that available UBEC funds were fully utilised and that approved programmes were implemented promptly.
According to her, investments in education must translate into improved infrastructure, stronger teaching and better learning outcomes for children.
Garba further urged Delta State to position itself to benefit from the education component of the HOPE Education Programme, a World Bank-supported intervention with up to $500 million earmarked for education.
She explained that states seeking to participate in the programme were required to access the 2026 matching grant and implement at least 50 per cent of their 2025 Action Plan.
She encouraged Delta to sustain its investment in education, utilise available resources and take advantage of UBEC’s technical support.
Responding, Onyeme assured UBEC that the Delta State Government would continue to strengthen the education sector and make quality education accessible to more residents.
The Deputy Governor clarified that updated records showed the state had about ₦1 billion in unutilised funds, rather than the ₦8 billion earlier referenced.
He also disclosed that Delta had implemented about 90 per cent of its 2025 Action Plan and had already received its 2026 matching grant.
Describing education as one of the state’s major areas of investment, Onyeme pledged continued efforts to improve its performance.
“We will continue to improve and do our best to ensure that we give education to as many citizens as possible,” he said.
Traditional Institutions, Key to Education Development
The UBEC delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Asagba of Asaba, HRM Prof. Epiphany Azinge, where Garba stressed the importance of traditional institutions and other stakeholders in advancing the national education agenda.
She said UBEC remained committed to ensuring that every Nigerian child, irrespective of location, circumstance or family background, had access to quality basic education.
“Our goal is to ensure that every Nigerian child, regardless of their circumstances or where they live, whether they come from a poor family or a rich family, must have the opportunity to receive quality basic education,” she said.
Garba acknowledged the Asagba’s support for education initiatives in Delta State, including efforts around smart schools, and called for stronger collaboration among traditional institutions, governments and education agencies.
In his response, Azinge described basic education as the foundation on which Nigeria’s future is built, saying it was at that level that children were nurtured, trained and prepared for the challenges ahead.
He particularly emphasised the importance of quality teachers in primary schools, noting that the quality of teachers ultimately determines the quality of people produced by the education system.
“If you have quality teachers, you produce quality people,” he said.
The traditional ruler urged UBEC and SUBEB chairmen to confront the challenges facing basic education honestly and develop practical and sustainable solutions.
He also called for greater attention to children with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, insisting that no Nigerian child should be left behind.
Garba said the focus following the engagements in Delta State was to ensure that investments, innovations and commitments by governments translated into tangible improvements in classrooms and better learning outcomes.
She assured Nigerians that UBEC would continue to collaborate with state governments, traditional institutions and other stakeholders by providing the technical support required to strengthen basic education nationwide.
She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of where they live or their circumstances, has access to quality basic education and the opportunity to build a better future.
