By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

In a bold move to confront Nigeria’s out-of-school crisis head-on, the Federal Government on Friday, flagged off the nationwide distribution of 15 million learners’ support kits, marking what officials described as a decisive step toward ensuring that no Nigerian child is left behind.

The national rollout ceremony, held in Makurdi, Benue State, coincided with the 2026 Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Basic Education Summit and the official launch of the Learners Support Programme (LSP).

At the event, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, declared that the intervention signals the Tinubu administration’s determination to dismantle the barriers keeping millions of vulnerable children out of school.

“This is not just a policy update; it is a solemn promise that no child, regardless of geography or background, will be left behind,” Garba said.

Under the first phase of the programme, 1,155,900 school kits will be distributed nationwide.

The kits include 288,975 units each of school bags, sandals, pencils and exercise books, specifically targeted at children from low-income and vulnerable households.

The nationwide exercise forms part of a broader plan to distribute 15 million kits across states ,a strategic intervention designed to ease financial pressures on parents, boost enrolment, improve retention, and strengthen transition rates in basic education.

Garba explained that the Learners Support Programme is anchored on the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government, which is driving a comprehensive restructuring of UBEC to build a more inclusive, resilient and accountable basic education system.

She commended Benue State Governor, Rev. Hyacinth Alia, for prioritising education and hosting the national flag-off, describing the state as a critical partner in the push to expand access to schooling.

The UBEC boss also praised the leadership of Benue SUBEB under its Chairman, Dr. Grace Adagba, for convening the summit themed: “Innovative Strategies for Addressing the Menace of Out-of-School Children: Enhancing Enrolment and Retention of Children in Basic Schools.”

Garba noted that despite constitutional guarantees under the Universal Basic Education Act of 2004, millions of Nigerian children remain deprived of their fundamental right to schooling.

She stressed that reversing the trend requires “bold innovation, urgent action and genuine collaboration,” outlining key strategies that include intensified community mobilisation, technology-driven enrolment tracking, improved school security in vulnerable areas, targeted incentives for girl-child education, inclusive teacher training, and expansion of non-formal learning pathways for older out-of-school children.

Highlighting UBEC’s partnership with Benue State, Garba revealed that the state is fully up to date in accessing federal matching grants, following reforms that relaxed funding conditions and improved utilisation processes ,reforms that have increased grant access nationwide by over 80 per cent.

She detailed several completed projects in Benue, including the construction of 39 new classrooms, 50 toilets, 15 offices, five libraries, five ICT laboratories and five Early Childhood Care Development Education (ECCDE) centres. Additionally, 182 classrooms and other facilities have been renovated.

Infrastructure support also includes furniture provision for 6,668 pupils, 309 teachers and 767 library users, installation of 13 boreholes with overhead tanks, and perimeter fencing in nine schools to enhance security.

Under the School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP), Garba disclosed that 13,670 community-driven projects have been delivered in Benue alone, backed by over ₦1.5 billion in first-tranche funding to 1,142 schools , directly impacting more than 430,000 learners.

She reaffirmed UBEC’s readiness to deepen collaboration with Benue and other states through complementary initiatives such as the Learners Retention Support Programme, aimed at sustaining enrolment gains and reducing dropout rates.

“Today’s flag-off demonstrates that the trend can be reversed,” she said. “Together, we can ensure that every child in Benue and across Nigeria can learn, grow and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s future.”

As policymakers, educators and stakeholders deliberate at the summit, expectations are high that actionable recommendations will emerge to tackle persistent access gaps and move Nigeria closer to universal basic education ,one school kit at a time.