By Isaac Mission 

The Federal Government has fixed November 15, 2026, as the deadline for the delivery of quality textbooks to public primary schools across the South East and South South regions.

The initiative is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), in collaboration with the World Bank under the HOPE-EDU programme.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the intervention was designed to improve access to learning materials and strengthen the foundation of basic education in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Alausa disclosed this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during the opening of a five-day regional thematic workshop focused on book supply chains and the Track and Trace system.

The workshop brought together education directors and procurement officers from State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) across the South East and South South.

Represented by an assistant director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Zubair Muhammad, the minister said the government was working with its World Bank partners to ensure that pupils in public schools received the books they needed.

According to him, the programme goes beyond simply distributing textbooks, as the government also wants the materials properly tracked, stored and preserved for continued use by pupils.

He stressed that the books would remain the property of the schools and should be maintained for use by learners across different levels.

Alausa also said authorities must establish accurate data on the number of pupils enrolled in public schools across the two regions to achieve the programme’s target of providing one book for every child.

Speaking at the event, UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, described education as a critical foundation for national development.

Garba said the Federal Government and the World Bank were committed to ensuring that the HOPE-EDU programme achieved measurable improvements in basic education.

She explained that the workshop was intended to equip state education authorities and SUBEB officials with the necessary knowledge, strategies and accountability mechanisms for effective implementation.

She added that the Book Supply Chain and Track and Trace system would help ensure that learning materials reached the intended schools and pupils while promoting transparency throughout the distribution process.

Represented by UBEC’s South South Zonal Director, Akpan Ossom Udo, Garba urged participating states to prepare for the November 15 deadline.

She warned that states must demonstrate their readiness by the deadline, describing compliance as a requirement for accessing the first round of programme disbursements.

Garba said the knowledge acquired during the workshop should be used to improve educational outcomes and create a stronger foundation for millions of children across the South East and South South.

She expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute to lasting improvements in Nigeria’s basic education system.