UBEC, JICA PARTNER TO BOOST SCIENCE AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has entered into a partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to improve the learning environment in Nigerian schools.
The agreement, signed on October 13, 2025, at UBEC headquarters in Abuja, launches the Educational Environment Improvement at Model Schools for Basic Mathematics, Science and Pre-Vocational Education Project.
The project will focus on upgrading selected model schools in Nasarawa, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Planned improvements include modern science laboratories, ICT rooms, vocational workshops, and gender-sensitive sanitation facilities. Schools will also receive equipment to enhance hands-on learning in computing, home economics, and technical education.
The initiative supports the goals of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), introduced in 2024 to improve learning outcomes and promote equity in education.
UBEC and JICA have a long history of collaboration, including previous projects that provided over 1,000 classrooms, water facilities, and teacher training programmes across several states. The new partnership will build on these achievements by expanding access to quality STEM and vocational education.
Both organisations aim to strengthen the bond between Nigeria and Japan while equipping young learners with the skills needed for national development and sustainable growth.