The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has formally assumed control of the LUMINAH 2030 Initiative for the sustainability of the project.
The LUMINAH 2030 is a transformative effort that integrates education, skills training, caregiver support, and community engagement to combat the root causes of girls’ exclusion from education.
The project aims to educate and economically empower one million underserved Nigerian girls by the year 2030.
The Executive Secretary UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba at the opening of a five-day programme on the LUMINAH 2030–UBEC Migration and Establishment Agenda in Abuja, announced the formal transfer of the initiative from the Federal Ministry of Education to the Commission.
Dr. Garba described the takeover as crucial for sustainability and long-term impact.
“Lumina illuminates the path to education and empowerment. It represents a national commitment to reach Nigeria’s most marginalised girls with schooling and life-changing opportunities,” she stated.
Garba acknowledged the role of AGILE, the World Bank-supported global programme that nurtured LUMINAH from inception.
She noted, however, that AGILE’s international framework has a limited lifespan, making UBEC’s institutional adoption necessary for continuity.
“Embedding LUMINAH within UBEC guarantees its institutionalisation, aligns it with national education priorities, and ensures it leaves a lasting legacy. It directly supports UBEC’s 10-year roadmap (2021–2030) and Nigeria’s broader education transformation agenda,” she said.
The UBEC boss reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to work with state governments, civil society organisations, the private sector, and communities, stressing the importance of robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms.
“Every educator trained, every caregiver empowered, and every community mobilised is a victory for Nigeria,” she added.
Launched in March 2025, LUMINAH 2030 aims to provide not just formal education but also vocational training and financial empowerment for adolescent girls and their caregivers. It also supports the creation of safe and flexible learning centres and the development of gender-equitable education policies.
UBEC’s Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Razak Akinyemi represented the Executive Director.
The initiative is currently being implemented in 12 states and the FCT, including Yobe, Taraba, Kano, Jigawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Anambra, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom.
Amina Buba, National Coordinator of the LUMINAH Initiative, described the handover to UBEC as a “strategic step toward sustainability and deeper impact.”
“This is more than an administrative change—it’s a deliberate shift to a more specialised and flexible system that enhances collaboration, resource mobilisation, and measurable outcomes,” she said.
Buba recalled that under the Ministry of Education, strong governance structures had already been set up, including a National Steering Committee chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
Neem Foundation, represented by Senior Programme Officer Minoe Duamwan, expressed its steadfast commitment to the integration of education with financial literacy, market-relevant skills, and psychosocial support.
“True learning is only achieved when education is combined.”