The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has raised the alarm over the slow utilisation of billions of naira meant to improve basic education, directing states to urgently access over ₦65 billion in counterpart funds and deploy about ₦267 billion in previously released intervention funds. AdvertisementGarba spoke in Asaba, Delta State, at the opening of the 30th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), themed: “Repositioning Basic Education in Nigeria to Optimise Investment and Impact.” AdvertisementGarba also identified the HOPE-EDU Operation as an opportunity to strengthen the systems, institutions and capacity required to achieve sustainable improvements in basic education. He said Delta State had prioritised education under its MORE Agenda, while consistently supporting the Universal Basic Education programme and fulfilling its counterpart funding obligations. According to him, basic education provides the foundation for literacy, numeracy, character, citizenship and innovation, urging education authorities to measure success by the competencies children acquire and the futures transformed.