By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
A renewed push to improve the quality of basic education in Lagos gathered momentum as the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), in partnership with the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), commenced the distribution of 15,675 teaching and learning materials to public primary schools across the state’s 20 Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs).
The distribution exercise was flagged off on Thursday, 23 July, 2026 at LASUBEB’s Multi-Purpose Hall, Maryland, Ikeja.
Beyond the conventional instructional materials, the exercise also covered the distribution of HOPE EDU learning resources for Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE) centres and Integrated Qur’anic Tsangaya Education schools, in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at expanding access to quality basic education.
The intervention underscores a growing partnership between the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government to strengthen classroom teaching through improved learning resources while addressing challenges associated with access to quality education.
Representing the Executive Secretary of UBEC, the Commission’s South-West Zonal Director, Mrs Beatrice Okei, said the distribution reflected UBEC’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child enjoys access to quality, inclusive and equitable basic education.
She explained that the exercise forms part of a nationwide distribution programme through which millions of instructional materials are being delivered to schools across the country.
According to her, the items include school bags, sandals, textbooks, exercise books, writing materials and sports equipment designed to boost school enrolment, reduce the number of out-of-school children and ease the financial burden on parents.
Okei also commended the Lagos State Government for sustaining investment in the basic education sector, noting that such commitment has continued to strengthen educational development in the state.
Speaking at the event, Executive Chairman of LASUBEB, Dr Hakeem Shittu, described the materials as strategic investments capable of improving classroom instruction and enhancing learning outcomes in public primary schools.
He said the intervention would also support teachers in delivering quality education, while reaffirming the Board’s commitment to ensuring that every child in Lagos has access to free and quality basic education through sustained investment in teaching and learning resources.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, described the initiative as another demonstration of the productive collaboration between the Federal Government, UBEC and the Lagos State Government in advancing the education sector.8
He urged education managers, school administrators and teachers to ensure the judicious use of the materials, stressing that transparency, accountability and effective monitoring remain critical to ensuring that the resources reach their intended beneficiaries.
The Commissioner added that the intervention would further improve teaching and learning in public primary schools while supporting efforts to build an inclusive, efficient and globally competitive basic education system.
The exercise climaxed with the symbolic presentation of the instructional materials to selected pupils, signalling the commencement of distribution to public primary schools across the 20 Local Government Education Authorities in Lagos State.
