FG Inaugurates Ministerial Committee to Fast-Track Operationalisation of UBEC Smart Schools By Beauty Akparido Aroh
The Federal Government has inaugurated a Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee to accelerate the full operationalisation of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools across Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, inaugurated the committee in Abuja, charging its members to ensure that completed school infrastructure is transformed into fully functional learning centres delivering quality education to Nigerian children.
Alausa said the committee was established to address delays in the completion, handover and operation of schools built under the Federal Government’s flagship basic education initiatives.
According to the minister, although UBEC has invested substantial public resources in developing the three categories of schools nationwide, many projects remain unfinished, while several completed facilities have yet to be handed over to state governments or opened for academic activities.
“Every day a completed school remains locked represents lost opportunities for thousands of Nigerian children. Every abandoned project represents resources not yielding their intended educational value,” he said.
He explained that the Smart Schools initiative is designed to promote technology-driven teaching and learning, while the Bilingual Schools programme aims to strengthen linguistic inclusion and national integration. The Alternative Schools initiative, he added, targets vulnerable groups, including girls, out-of-school children and other underserved learners, through flexible and inclusive education models.
The minister directed the committee to ensure the completion of outstanding construction works and the provision of essential facilities, including furniture, electricity, potable water, internet connectivity and teaching equipment in all affected schools.
He also instructed members to work closely with state governments and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) to facilitate the deployment of qualified teachers, complete handover processes and drive student enrolment.
Alausa stressed that the committee’s success would not be measured by meetings held or reports submitted, but by the number of schools made operational and actively educating children.
“The success of this committee will not be measured by the number of meetings held or inspection reports produced. It will be measured by one question: How many schools have become operational and are educating Nigerian children?” he stated.
He noted that the committee’s mandate spans the entire implementation chain—from construction and handover to staffing, enrolment and measurable learning outcomes—adding that both the Federal Ministry of Education and UBEC would provide the necessary support to ensure successful implementation.
The minister further assured Nigerians that, under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, no educational infrastructure funded with public resources would be allowed to remain abandoned, idle or underutilised, describing the initiative as part of the government’s commitment to accountability and improved educational service delivery under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, described the Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools as among the Federal Government’s most significant investments in basic education, aimed at expanding access, promoting digital learning and improving educational opportunities for vulnerable and out-of-school children.
Garba disclosed that 37 Smart Schools have been established across the country, with 24 already operational, while the remaining schools are at various stages of completion, furnishing and preparation for commissioning.
She also revealed that under the UBEC–Islamic Development Bank Bilingual Education Programme, 30 schools have been established across nine states, with three boarding schools already completed and commissioned, while four others have reached substantial completion and are awaiting commissioning.
According to her, significant progress has equally been recorded in curriculum development, teacher capacity building, textbook production and the procurement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) equipment.
She added that UBEC is working closely with state governments to ensure adequate staffing and the long-term sustainability of the schools.
Garba further stated that the Alternative Schools Programme continues to expand access to education for out-of-school children through flexible learning models tailored to the needs of disadvantaged and underserved communities.
The inauguration of the ministerial committee signals the Federal Government’s renewed determination to ensure that investments in basic education infrastructure translate into improved access to quality learning and better educational outcomes for millions of Nigerian children.
