Tinubu Appoints Aisha Garba As UBEC Executive Secretary
President Bola Tinubu has named Aisha Garba, an international development expert, as the new Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
Garba, currently a Senior Education Specialist with the World Bank, brings over 24 years of experience in education-focused human and economic development programs. Her career has spanned multiple countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Kenya, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
A statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga highlighted Garba’s extensive work at the World Bank, where she spent 15 years leading education programs from design to implementation and impact assessment. Her expertise includes managing initiatives in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent settings to deliver sustainable education solutions.
Garba has contributed to various high-profile projects, including the team that helped Nigeria achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in education. She has also consulted for organizations such as the UK Department for International Development (DFID), BOND-UK, Regent Foundation, and Muslim Aid Organisation.
Educational Background
Garba earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Computer Studies from Petra American University in Jordan in 2000. She later obtained a Master’s degree in International Development from the University of Birmingham in the UK in 2007.
Expectations From the Presidency
President Tinubu expressed confidence in Garba’s ability to lead UBEC, emphasizing her role in driving the administration’s vision of ensuring Nigerian children receive quality education that prepares them to compete globally.
The appointment is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s basic education system and provide innovative solutions to long-standing challenges in the sector.
