The Lagos State government has reaffirmed its commitment to massive investments in school infrastructure, vocational training, and technology-driven education.

The government noted that the future of Nigeria depends on the quality of knowledge delivered in classrooms.

Speaking in Lagos on Monday during the 27th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with the Executive Chairmen of SUBEBs across the 36 states and the FCT, the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also urged teachers nationwide to embrace continuous training and professional development to be more effective in today’s evolving learning landscape.

The meeting came under the theme ‘Bridging the Gap between Planning and Performance Towards Achieving Quality Basic Education’.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, restated his administration’s commitment to Project Zero initiative to reduce the number of out-of-school children and ensure free, equitable and innovative education system in the state.

Available data shows there are over 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria. Responding to this data, Sanwo-Olu challenged the education stakeholders to deliberate and reach a purposeful decision on how to reduce the number of out-of-school children across the country.

In her address, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, said the Commission’s efforts are in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, particularly in ensuring effective policy delivery and improved learning outcomes nationwide.

‎She also made a passionate call for unity and collaboration, stressing that Nigeria’s education reform blueprint must move from paper to action by ensuring that underserved children, whether on the streets or in classrooms lacking resources, gain access to quality learning opportunities.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Chairman, Lagos SUBEB, Hakeem Shittu, disclosed that basic education under the Sanwo-Olu administration has witnessed giant strides with massive infrastructural renewal, construction and rehabilitation of schools, digital learning initiative, prioritised teachers’ welfare and professional development.

The Dean and Chairman, Forum of Chairmen in Nigeria, Shehu Adaramaja, described the theme as apt and commended the transformative initiatives under the leadership of the UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, to enhance basic education, including the establishment of BEEF to track basic education progress across the country.