In a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s basic education system, President Bola Tinubu has appointed former Nasarawa State governor, Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the launch of the AFD-supported ICT Development Project in 10 Nigerian universities. The appointment comes at a time when Nigeria’s educational sector is grappling with urgent challenges, from poor infrastructure to low literacy rates in rural areas.
Al-Makura, a seasoned politician and businessman, is no stranger to public service. During his tenure as governor, he was widely credited for initiating key infrastructural and social projects that helped reposition Nasarawa State for growth. His leadership style—calm, pragmatic, and people-focused—earned him both allies and critics.
Now at the helm of UBEC, Al-Makura will be steering a crucial federal intervention agency under the Ministry of Education. UBEC plays a vital role in ensuring that counterpart funding is released to states for the effective delivery of free, quality basic education across Nigeria.
Many see his appointment as a strategic move by the Tinubu administration to inject political experience into educational reforms. “There’s no excuse for failure at this level,” a senior official in the education ministry remarked. “We need leaders who understand governance and have the will to push through real change.”
As Nigeria battles to improve school enrollment, teacher quality, and learning conditions at the foundational level, all eyes will be on Al-Makura to see if he can bring the same drive he showed in Nasarawa to a national assignment that affects millions of Nigerian children.