By Favour Nnabugwu

Federal Government has flagged off the support funds of 2010 Universal Basic Education, UBE to 4, 109 communities, following the Federal Government’s preparedness to increase its partnership with States, Local Councils and rural communities.

Minister of State for Education, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike who made the declaration in Yenagoa on recentlt said that the support fund in order to breach disadvantages in children educationally

Wike during the flag off of the 2010 Universal Basic Education, UBE Community initiated self help project implementation and disbursement of first tranche support funds to 4,109 communities said that the programme is a home-grown initiative to promote speedy implementation of educational development projects.

He explained that the Federal Government is working towards entrenching processes and initiatives to promote participation by all stakeholders in educational development.

Right framework

His words: “It has become imperative to establish the right framework towards ensuring that States and Local Governments, private sector organisations, civil society organisations and communities are not left behind in efforts geared towards providing quality education to Nigerian children”.

The Hon. Minister of State noted that the Federal Government is confident that progress will be attained in government’s quest to create access to basic education because of the previous commitment shown by community leaders in the management of funds meant for project execution.

He said: “I am very optimistic that the increased funding profile for each project will spur local communities and empower them to achieve quality and sustainable best practices through self help initiatives”.

He challenged State Governments to replicate Federal Government’s education based development projects to improve the impact on the populace.

According to him: “It is in replicating these programmes that we would have collectively provided response to tackling issues affecting basic education in our country”