The Federal Government has launched five flagship World Bank-backed programmes aimed at accelerating human capital development, reducing poverty, strengthening healthcare, improving governance and expanding economic opportunities across Nigeria.
The programmes were unveiled on Friday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Represented by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, President Tinubu said the initiatives reflect the administration’s commitment to translating economic reforms into tangible benefits for Nigerians through strategic investments in education, healthcare, social protection and institutional development.
The President reaffirmed that education remains central to the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that no nation can rise above the quality of its education.
“No nation can rise above the quality of its education. Real prosperity means no Nigerian will be left behind,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described education as Nigeria’s greatest investment, noting that the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU) Programme represents a transformative investment of about $552.18 million, jointly funded by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
According to Alausa, the programme will strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, improve teaching quality, expand access to quality basic education and enhance education management systems nationwide.
He disclosed that the initiative will directly benefit nearly 30 million children, support the professional development of 500,000 public primary school teachers, and improve teaching and learning in more than 65,000 public primary schools and their School-Based Management Committees across the country.
The minister explained that the programme, which covers all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, will operate on a results-based financing model that rewards measurable improvements in learning outcomes. He added that it is designed to reduce learning poverty, strengthen teacher effectiveness, improve accountability through robust education data systems and promote evidence-based planning and efficient resource allocation.
Alausa described teachers as the bedrock of nation-building and urged implementing partners to maximise available resources and institutional support to deliver measurable improvements in learning outcomes for every Nigerian child.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, pledged the commitment of the 36 state governments and the FCT to work closely with the Federal Government, the World Bank and other development partners to ensure the successful implementation of the programmes.
He said sustained accountability, institutional strengthening and improved service delivery remain critical to achieving inclusive growth and long-term national development, while commending the World Bank for its continued support to Nigeria.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, described the NG-CARES, SOLID and HOPE programmes as complementary interventions designed to tackle poverty, strengthen resilience and accelerate human capital development.
Bagudu stressed that effective coordination among all levels of government, transparency and prudent management of resources would be essential to ensuring that the programmes benefit poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
Also speaking, World Bank Country Director, Mathew Verghis, commended the Federal Government’s commitment to human capital development, saying the programmes were designed to strengthen social protection, expand economic opportunities, improve education and healthcare outcomes, and support vulnerable communities.
He noted that the interventions complement Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and reflect strong collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, local governments and development partners in addressing poverty and the rising cost of living.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to providing policy leadership, effective coordination and oversight for the successful implementation of the HOPE-EDU programme, describing it as one of the country’s most significant investments in children, teachers, schools and the future workforce. The ministry said the initiative would play a key role in developing the skilled human capital needed to drive sustainable economic growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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