President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Aisha Garba, a distinguished international development expert, as the new Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
The appointment was announced on Tuesday by the President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who highlighted Garba’s impressive track record in the education sector.
Aisha Garba, a Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank, brings more than 24 years of experience in leading transformative education initiatives across multiple countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Kenya, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
“With over 15 years of hands-on experience at the World Bank, Garba has consistently led end-to-end design and management of education programmes and reforms, from conceptualisation to completion and impact assessment,” the statement noted.
In addition to her extensive experience in education, Garba is deeply committed to human development. The development specialist plans to leverage her vast network, which includes governments, development partners, and communities, as well as her expertise in working in fragile, conflict, and violent settings, to implement sustainable solutions in basic education.
The full statement reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Aisha Garba, an international development specialist, as the Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education (UBEC).”
Garba has over 24 years of experience driving impactful education programmes that support human and economic development, working across Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Kenya, the USA, and the United Kingdom.
“With over 15 years of hands-on experience at the World Bank, Garba has consistently led end-to-end design and management of education programmes and reforms, from conceptualisation to completion and impact assessment.”
Garba has also contributed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets in Nigeria and has consulted for various organizations, including the World Bank, the Department for International Development, BOND-UK, the Regent Foundation, and the Muslim Aid Organization.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Computer Studies from Petra American University in Jordan in 2000 and a Master’s in International Development from the University of Birmingham in the UK in 2007.
The President expects Garba to champion the renewed vision of providing quality education and making Nigerian children globally competitive.
