President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Aisha Garba, an international development specialist, as the new Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). The appointment, announced on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is part of the administration’s effort to revitalize Nigeria’s education sector.
Aisha Garba, a Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank, brings over 24 years of experience implementing impactful educational programs across Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Kenya, the US, and the UK. Notably, she spent over 15 years at the World Bank leading large-scale education reforms in fragile and conflict-prone regions.
Garba has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in education and consulted for organizations like DFID, Regent Foundation, and Muslim Aid Organization. Her experience will be instrumental in driving UBEC’s mandate to improve Nigeria’s basic education system.
An alumna of Petra American University in Jordan, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Computer Studies, Garba also holds a Master’s in International Development from the University of Birmingham, UK. Her background reflects a blend of expertise and a commitment to human development.
President Tinubu expressed confidence in Garba’s leadership, tasking her to implement reforms that will provide Nigerian children with quality education and enhance their global competitiveness. This appointment aligns with the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda to transform the education sector for national growth.