President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, a former Governor of Nasarawa State, as the Chairman of the Board of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
The announcement was made public on Monday through an official statement from the Presidency. The appointment is part of the President’s ongoing effort to reposition key government institutions for more effective service delivery, particularly in the education sector.
Al-Makura, who served as governor of Nasarawa State from 2011 to 2019, and later as a senator representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District, brings a wealth of experience in governance, public policy, and grassroots development. His tenure as governor was marked by several education-focused initiatives, including the expansion of basic education infrastructure across Nasarawa State.
With this new appointment, Senator Al-Makura is expected to lead UBEC in advancing the Federal Government’s goals of improving access to quality basic education across Nigeria. The Universal Basic Education Commission is charged with coordinating and implementing nationwide policies for early childhood care, primary and junior secondary education.
Stakeholders in the education sector have welcomed the appointment, expressing optimism that Al-Makura’s experience in both executive and legislative arms of government would translate into improved oversight, strategic planning, and reforms within UBEC.
This appointment is coming at a time when the country is facing numerous challenges in its basic education sector, including out-of-school children, poor learning outcomes, inadequate infrastructure, and teacher shortages. The new board chairman is expected to tackle these issues and strengthen UBEC’s collaboration with state governments to improve education delivery at the grassroots level.
