Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has promised to collaborate with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to provide quality education across Nigeria.

Mr Sanwo-Olu made the promise on Friday during a courtesy visit by the executive secretary and board members of UBEC to Alausa, Ikeja.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, emphasised that education must remain the priority of the nation, particularly in states.

He said, “Education is the foundation of national development. In 2025, no child in Nigeria should be left out of school.

“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 secured.”

The governor noted his administration’s commitment to partnering with UBEC to provide qualified teachers, good security, and full infrastructure completion for the Smart Model School, built by the commission in Lagos.

Mr Sanwo-Olu highlighted the need for peer review among states and encouraged UBEC to share real-time knowledge to meet the needs of every state.

He added that the best practices in Lagos and other regions could be replicated nationwide for the country’s overall development.

The governor stressed the importance of education in securing Nigeria’s self-sufficiency, emphasising that Nigeria should never again depend on external powers for its progress.

Mr Sanwo-Olu commended the commission’s new funding model, which allowed states to apply resources according to their specific needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

He admonished education stakeholders to consider data-driven planning, stronger attention to special needs pupils, and proactive health checks for pupils.

“This includes vision and hearing assessments, to ensure no child is left behind,” he said.

In her remarks, the UBEC executive secretary, Aisha Garba, highlighted the commission’s desire to partner with the Lagos State government to replicate the successful Lagos model of basic education delivery.

According to her, the Lagos model has attracted attention from other states, with many SUBEBs reaching out to learn from the state’s experience.

Ms Garba noted that Lagos was leading in achieving education outcomes in Nigeria.

She noted that the Lagos State government’s partnership was crucial in replicating the success in other states.

Ms Garba expressed the commission’s interest in partnering with the state government to support SUBEBs in the South-West zone, particularly in private sector partnership and improving access to quality education.

The UBEC boss also highlighted the commission’s desire to work with the state government to sustain schools built by UBEC.

“We’d like to request a partnership in ensuring the school is now fully secure for us to be able to install all the particular items that we procured for the smart school,” she said.

(NAN)