Use $611m UBE fund well or make refund, World Bank tells FG

Nigeria may have to utilise the $611 million Universal Basic Education (UBE) fund provided by the World Bank for the assigned projects across the country or refund the money.

The World Bank gave the warning yesterday, insisting that if the money is not used judiciously to achieve the set objectives, Nigeria will have to refund the money.

Its Team Lead in charge of Better Education Service Delivery For All (BESDA), Hajiya Aisha Garba, disclosed this at the kick-off of BESDA in Birnin-Kebbi.

She added that the money, which was released to the Nigerian government, was meant for the first part of the Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) 2016-2019 on out-of-school-children.

Garba stated further that the major objectives of the BESDA include increasing equitable access for out-of-school-children, improving literacy in focus, as well as strengthening accountability for better results in Nigeria’s basic education.

“We released the fund to assist the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, but failing to achieve good results, the World Bank will collect the money back,” she said.

Speaking, representative of the Ministry of Education and Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin-Kebbi, Professor Bello B. Sheahu, commended the World Bank for initiating the BESDA project and providing $611 million to support Nigeria in strengthening universal basic education, as well as addressing other challenges in the education sector.

He said no nation rises above the level of its educational development, but that countries must strive to have a well-developed educational system that will equip its people and prepare them to take competitive advantage of 21st century knowledge-based economy.

Speaking, Kebbi State Governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Ismail Yombe Dabai, commended the World Bank and Federal Government for initiating the programme and assured of full implementation and commitment towards ensuring quality education in the state.