President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, approved the removal of Idris Olorunnimbe as Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and his subsequent replacement by former Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

The new Al-Makura-led UBEC board was officially inaugurated in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

Olorunnimbe, who was appointed UBEC Chairman in March 2025, was quietly dropped from the position without any formal explanation from the Presidency or the Ministry of Education.

Taking his place is Al-Makura, a seasoned politician who governed Nasarawa State from 2011 to 2019 and served as Senator representing Nasarawa South between 2019 and 2023. Aside from politics, Al-Makura has business experience spanning agriculture, heavy-duty machinery, hospitality, and real estate.

As the new Chairman of UBEC, Al-Makura is expected to oversee critical reforms and strengthen collaborations aimed at boosting access to quality basic education across Nigeria.