Sanwo-Olu commits to UBEC partnership for stronger education in Lagos, beyond
...Warns no Nigerian child should be left out of school by 2025
By Sodiq Adelakun
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has restated his administration’s determination to deepen collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in delivering quality education, declaring that no Nigerian child should be excluded from learning opportunities in 2025.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, gave this assurance during a courtesy visit by UBEC’s Executive Secretary and board members at the Roundhouse, Alausa, Ikeja.
The governor described education as the bedrock of national growth and maintained it must remain a central priority for every state. “In 2025, no child in Nigeria should be left out of school. Education should not be about region, culture, or tradition; it is a fundamental right. If we get primary education right, the future of our children will be secure,” he stated.
Sanwo-Olu pledged Lagos State’s support for UBEC’s Smart Model School project in Badagry, promising to provide qualified teachers, strengthen security, and upgrade infrastructure to guarantee its success.
Calling for stronger inter-state collaboration, he encouraged UBEC to facilitate peer learning and real-time knowledge exchange that would enable other states to adopt Lagos’s education strategies.
The governor also linked education to Nigeria’s sovereignty, referencing Badagry’s history as a former slave route. He asserted that a solid educational base was critical to ensuring the country’s progress remained self-determined and independent of foreign influence.
Commending UBEC’s revised funding framework, Sanwo-Olu criticised earlier approaches as inflexible and ineffective. He praised the new model that allows states to allocate funds according to their specific needs, describing it as a “progressive step that will deliver stronger outcomes for pupils and communities.”
He called on education stakeholders to prioritise data-driven planning, while paying closer attention to special needs education and health interventions such as vision and hearing assessments to ensure every child benefits from learning opportunities.
Earlier, UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, explained that Lagos was selected as host for the Commission’s Southern Zone senior management retreat in recognition of its achievements in education.
Garba stressed the importance of Lagos’s partnership to sustain the Smart Model School in Iworo-Ajido, Badagry, one of UBEC’s largest schools. “It’s very important that we partner together to sustain this investment by recruiting teachers, providing student transportation, and ensuring security at the school,” she said.
She noted that the school, built to accommodate nearly 1,000 pupils, is fully equipped with modern teaching tools including computers and interactive smart boards. She expressed confidence that Lagos’s approach could serve as a national template, especially in leveraging private sector investment to strengthen access and improve educational outcomes.
“When it comes to education, Lagos is leading in outcomes. We want to really work with you to see how this particular model can be replicated across Nigeria,” she added.