The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, has urged states to access over ₦65 billion in counterpart funds and utilise approximately ₦267 billion in previously released intervention funds. Garba made the call in Asaba, Delta State, at the opening of UBEC’s 30th Quarterly Meeting with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), themed “Repositioning Basic Education in Nigeria to Optimise Investment and Impact.” She disclosed that states had accessed over ₦177 billion in UBE Matching Grants, while more than ₦65 billion in counterpart funding remained unaccessed and approximately ₦267 billion in previously released intervention funds remained unutilised across the states. According to her, the HOPE-EDU Operation presents an opportunity to strengthen the systems, institutions and capacity required to deliver sustainable improvements in basic education. He said the Delta State Government had prioritised education under its MORE Agenda, consistently supported the Universal Basic Education programme and fulfilled its counterpart funding obligations.