FCT UBEB CONVENES 67TH MANAGEMENT MEETING, UNVEILS STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN BASIC EDUCATION DELIVERY

The Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) on Monday, June 8, 2026, convened its 67th Management Meeting at the Board's Conference Room, with far-reaching resolutions aimed at enhancing educational service delivery, staff welfare, school monitoring, and the enrollment of out-of-school children across the FCT.

Welcoming members of management, the Acting Executive Chairman of the Board, Lady Florence Wenegieme, commended directors, heads of departments, and staff for their unwavering commitment, cooperation, and dedication toward achieving the mandate of the Board despite the increasing pace of activities within the Universal Basic Education sector.

Lady Wenegieme disclosed that the Honourable Minister of Education had expressed satisfaction with the visibility and publicity accorded to the Digital Dashboard for school monitoring recently provided to the Board by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), describing the initiative as a major step toward strengthening accountability and effective school supervision.

Emphasizing the importance of collective responsibility, the Acting Executive Chairman reiterated that "teamwork makes the dream work" and called for renewed synergy among management staff to advance the Board's objectives.

As part of efforts to improve staff welfare, she directed the immediate revitalization of the Board's Welfare Committee, which she observed had become inactive. To this end, directors and heads of departments and units were instructed to nominate two staff members each to serve on the committee. The Director of Administration and Supplies, Mr. Joseph Asa, was appointed Chairman of the committee, while the Head of Legal Unit, Barrister Agboka Omale, will serve as Secretary.

The Chairman also directed all departments to resubmit their action plans to the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics to facilitate effective monitoring and implementation of departmental activities.

In a significant development, Lady Wenegieme announced ongoing plans to provide operational running costs for the Smart Model School, Karshi, to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the institution's programmes.

She further informed management that departmental briefings would continue across the Board, noting that engagements had already been held with the Junior Secondary School Department, Administration Department, and Stores Unit.

Addressing the challenge of out-of-school children, the Acting Executive Chairman revealed that the Board would soon embark on a comprehensive sensitization campaign across the six Area Councils of the FCT. According to her, the initiative is designed to boost school enrollment and reduce the incidence of out-of-school children.

As an incentive, she announced that the first 100 children enrolled during the exercise would receive school bags, pairs of sandals, and learning materials. She directed the sensitization committee to develop clear modalities for the distribution of the items and stressed that the campaign must be concluded before schools resume in September.

To ensure wider reach and inclusivity, the sensitization exercise will be conducted in English, Hausa, Gbagyi, and Fulfulde languages. The campaign will utilize flyers, traditional town criers, and student ambassadors who will share personal educational experiences to encourage enrollment.

Lady Wenegieme also disclosed that each Area Council would receive five Smart Boards to support technology-driven teaching and learning in schools.

On administrative matters, she urged directors and heads of departments to strictly adhere to approved schedules of duties. She directed all departments and units to maintain appropriate stationery, inspection files, and policy files, bearing standardized departmental identification under the FCT UBEB nomenclature.

During departmental briefings, the Director overseeing Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Emmanuel Shuaibu, announced that the former Quality Assurance Department is now officially known as the Monitoring and Evaluation Department. He added that continuous monitoring and evaluation exercises are currently ongoing across schools within the FCT.

The Director of Junior Secondary Schools, Dr. Victor Orifa, informed management that the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) would commence on June 9, 2026.

Similarly, the Director of Science, Technology, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Mrs. Angela Nwachukwu, disclosed that between 50 and 60 FCT UBEB schools would participate in the forthcoming Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) Mathematics Examination. She noted that efforts are underway to revitalize STAN-related academic competitions and assessments in schools.

Contributing during discussions, the Head of Audit Unit, Mr. Ibrahim Babawo, raised concerns over situations where subordinate staff possess critical information unavailable to their supervisors. He advised management to strengthen internal information flow and accountability mechanisms to ensure departmental heads remain adequately informed for effective decision-making and service delivery.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for the Acting Executive Chairman to formally welcome the Board's newly appointed directors. She encouraged them to work harmoniously, foster mutual respect, and promote collaboration in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The meeting concluded with comprehensive departmental briefings and renewed commitments by management to advance quality basic education, improve institutional efficiency, and strengthen stakeholder engagement across the Federal Capital Territory.

By: Ossai Patience