JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints Aisha Garba as UBEC Executive Secretary

In a significant move to strengthen Nigeria’s education sector, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Aisha Garba as the new Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). The appointment was announced on Tuesday in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Garba, an international development expert and Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank, brings over 24 years of experience in advancing education initiatives across Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Kenya, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Her career has been distinguished by the design and management of impactful education programs, driving reforms, and contributing to human and economic development.

With more than 15 years at the World Bank, Garba has demonstrated expertise in overseeing large-scale education reforms from their inception to implementation and evaluation. Her work has been particularly notable in fragile and conflict-affected regions, where she has successfully delivered sustainable education solutions.

Garba’s contributions include playing a key role in helping Nigeria achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in education. She has also consulted for major international organizations, including the Department for International Development (DFID), Regent Foundation, and Muslim Aid Organization.

An alumna of Petra American University in Jordan, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and Computer Studies, Garba further obtained a Master’s degree in International Development from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

President Tinubu has tasked Garba with leading UBEC to implement his administration’s vision of delivering quality basic education to Nigerian children and enhancing their ability to compete globally. The appointment highlights Tinubu’s commitment to revitalizing the country’s basic education sector as part of his “Renewed Hope” agenda for national development.