The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has formally adopted the Luminah 2030 programme into its operations, work plans, and budgets, pledging to scale the initiative nationwide in collaboration with state education boards.

The commitment was announced on Friday in Abuja during the official handover of Luminah 2030 to UBEC. The programme, launched in March 2025 under the Federal Ministry of Education, aims to empower one million underserved Nigerian girls with education, vocational training, and community support by 2030.

Currently implemented in 12 pilot states across the six geopolitical zones—Yobe, Taraba, Kano, Jigawa, Benue, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ebonyi, Anambra, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, and Oyo—the programme is expected to expand nationwide within the next five years.

Speaking at the handover, UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Razak Akinyemi, said integrating Luminah 2030 into UBEC’s framework would boost efforts to tackle Nigeria’s high rate of out-of-school children and improve learning outcomes, particularly for girls in rural and low-income communities.

“Most importantly, this journey will remain collaborative—every partner, every stakeholder, and every state that has contributed to shaping Luminah will continue to have a voice and a role as we advance together,” Garba said.

She stressed that collaboration with State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) would guarantee ownership and delivery at scale, while also ensuring sustainability beyond the programme’s initial lifespan.

“With this migration, UBEC takes full responsibility for sustaining and strengthening the initiative,” she explained. “Although the implementation is now housed within UBEC, it must be emphasised that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Luminah Committees remain central to this journey. Their continued policy oversight, technical guidance, and strategic direction will be critical in ensuring that Luminah 2030 stays aligned with the national vision for education and Sustainable Development Goal 4.”

Garba also assured stakeholders that UBEC would uphold transparency and accountability in managing funds and resources under the initiative.

“UBEC will continue to walk hand in hand with the ministry, the committees, and all stakeholders, building on past successes and confronting the challenges ahead with unity of purpose,” she added.

According to reports, Luminah 2030 is  regarded as one of Nigeria’s most ambitious education empowerment programmes directly aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4—ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all