Journal of Sociological Research ISSN 1948-5468 2012, Vol. 3, No. 2 www.macrothink.org/jsr 672 Achieving Universal Basic Education in Nigeria since 1999: Women as Partners Professor Amakievi Okien Ijeoma Gabriel Institute Of Foundation Studies, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B.5080, Port Harcourt Accepted: November 17, 2012 Published: December 27, 2012 Doi:10.5296/jsr.v3i2.3008 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/jsr.v3i2.3008 Abstract The Universal Basic Education Programme UBE in Nigeria is free and compulsory. It is the responsibility of all and so women are represented on the Board of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) as stakeholders. This discourse examined the various areas and suggested strategies that women as individuals and groups can intervene for a successful implementation of the UBE. Advocacy, monitoring funding are major intervention strategies women can undertake as partners. Their umbrella organization the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) should strengthen partnership with UBEC for the success of UBE and for recognition as significant partners. Introduction Education is provided and acquired in various ways such as through informal, non-formal and formal settings. By whatever means, women have been and are still active participants in providing education everywhere in the world. For a serious programme such as the Universal Basic Education (UBE) women’s increased efforts in this regard would contribute to achieving not only the UBE goals but gender equality in both access and completion of the cycle at the junior secondary school level. UBE implementation in all the states of Nigeria is anchored on the Federal government’s desire to drastically reduce illiteracy within a short period and in the long run entrench viable participatory democracy that will enhance national socio-economic development. The lofty ideals of the UBE therefore make it imperative for all stakeholders to actively intervene in the programme rather than leaving it to government. This paper examines the critical and multi-pronged approaches that Nigerian women in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) can exploit to facilitate the implementation of the UBE. In this way they can gain greater visibility, control and relevance as responsible