UBEC: $552m World Bank programme targets 29 million Nigerian children

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has announced that a $552.18m World Bank-supported education programme is designed to benefit 29 million Nigerian children, 500,000 teachers, 65,000 public schools and 10,000 non-formal learning centres.

UBEC seeks state funding for 2027 implementation

Garba warned that the programme’s success would depend significantly on state governments’ willingness to provide policy direction and adequate budgetary support.

She urged SUBEB chairmen to present the programme to their respective state executives and secure the necessary political backing to ensure that planned activities were implemented on schedule.

Particular attention was drawn to the 2027 state budgets, which Garba said would be critical to meeting several disbursement-linked indicators.

She explained that many of the activities scheduled for the programme’s first year would require specific provisions in state budgets. Without the necessary allocations, participating states could struggle to meet the conditions for receiving the corresponding funds.

The executive secretary therefore called on state education officials to engage their governors and other relevant authorities early enough to secure the resources needed for implementation.

Under the programme’s financing structure, states must meet specified targets and satisfy verification requirements before qualifying for the associated disbursements. This makes planning, budgetary commitments and timely execution central to the initiative.

Garba said the programme, introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, was intended to improve educational opportunities for all children, particularly those from disadvantaged communities, rural areas and populations currently excluded from formal schooling.

She urged SUBEB chairmen, who are responsible for implementing basic education programmes at the state level, to take ownership of the initiative and ensure their states fulfil the agreed targets.

“The success of HOPE-EDU rests on your shoulders. Let us work together to ensure that no state is left behind,” she said.

Garba also encouraged participants to contribute actively to discussions during the meeting and return to their states prepared to champion the programme’s implementation.

She commended the National Programme Coordinator, the Programme Manager and the HOPE-EDU team for organising the meeting, while acknowledging the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Education, the World Bank and other technical partners.

Programme targets out-of-school children and underserved communities

Earlier, HOPE-EDU Programme Manager Olumayowa Aleshin presented an overview of the initiative, explaining its funding arrangements, implementation targets and major milestones.

The programme is expected to support improvements in classroom teaching, provide additional learning opportunities for underserved populations and strengthen the institutions responsible for delivering basic education.

Its focus on out-of-school children is particularly significant, as the initiative seeks to address unequal access to education by prioritising states with large numbers of children who are not enrolled in school under the relevant eligibility conditions.

However, the programme’s ability to deliver its intended benefits will depend on more than the size of its funding. State governments must also meet the agreed performance indicators, provide required budgetary allocations and ensure that education agencies coordinate their activities effectively.

With 29 million children, 500,000 teachers, 65,000 public schools and 10,000 non-formal learning centres identified as targets, the initiative represents a major effort to improve Nigeria’s basic education system.

The planned construction of 13,000 classrooms, alongside investments in teaching quality, access and institutional capacity, is expected to contribute to better learning conditions. Its eventual impact will depend on how effectively the federal and state governments translate the programme’s commitments into results on the ground.