UBEC, Media Stakeholders Push Data-Driven, Child-Friendly Reporting on Basic Education

The Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, has called for stronger collaboration with the media to promote data-driven and child-friendly reporting on basic education in Nigeria.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement, UBEC said the partnership will include organised field visits to UBEC-funded projects, collaborative awareness campaigns, greater transparency in projects and procurement, small investigative journalism grants, and the creation of feedback channels for journalists.

The Commission urged government, communities, teachers, development partners and the media to work together to ensure every Nigerian child has access to safe, inclusive and quality basic education.

“Together, we can ensure the story of every Nigerian child’s right to quality basic education is told with accuracy, context and urgency,” the UBEC representative said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria, ECAN, Chux Ukwuatu, called for deeper engagement between UBEC and education reporters.

He urged the Commission to include selected education correspondents on local field trips and project inspection visits outside Abuja so journalists can witness UBEC interventions firsthand.

Ukwuatu also requested logistical support to enable accurate reporting during official assignments, and for UBEC’s activities to be made more accessible to ensure fuller and fairer coverage.

“If journalists see projects on the ground, their stories will better reflect successes and gaps alike, informing the public, improving scrutiny, and ultimately strengthening programmes,” he said, describing the requests as a partnership.

Stakeholders noted that this is the first collaboration of its kind between UBEC and the media in over nine years.

UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, said she is determined to change the narrative and correct anomalies in the sector in order to boost access to quality universal basic education in Nigeria.

The partnership has also gained momentum following the appointment of Mr. Ikharo Attah as Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Education.