EDUCATION: FG Unveils Five World Bank-Backed Programmes to Boost Education, Human Capital Development.

By Our Correspondent, July 18, 2026.

The Federal Government has launched five flagship World Bank-supported programmes aimed at accelerating human capital development, reducing poverty, strengthening healthcare, improving governance and expanding economic opportunities across Nigeria.

The programmes, unveiled at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, form part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, with education positioned as the cornerstone of the administration's development strategy.

Representing President Tinubu at the launch, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, said the initiatives underscore the administration's resolve to translate economic reforms into tangible benefits for Nigerians through strategic investments in education, healthcare, social protection and institutional development.

He reaffirmed the President's commitment to education, quoting him as saying, "No nation can rise above the quality of its education," while stressing that real prosperity would only be achieved when no Nigerian is left behind.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described education as the nation's greatest investment, disclosing that the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU) programme would receive about 552.18 million dollars in funding from the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

According to him, the programme will strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, improve the quality of teaching, expand access to quality basic education and enhance education management systems across the country.

Dr. Alausa said the initiative is expected to 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 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He explained that the programme would operate on a results-based financing model that rewards measurable improvements in learning outcomes while reducing learning poverty, strengthening teacher effectiveness and improving accountability through robust education data systems.

The minister urged implementing partners to ensure effective utilization of the resources provided, noting that investments in education, nutrition and skills development remain critical to economic growth and national prosperity.

Also speaking, Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on behalf of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, pledged the commitment of all 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory to collaborate with the Federal Government, the World Bank and other development partners for the successful implementation of the programmes.

He emphasized the need for accountability, institutional strengthening and improved service delivery to achieve inclusive growth and sustainable national development, while appreciating 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, build resilience and accelerate human capital development.

Bagudu stressed that the success of the initiatives would depend on effective coordination among all tiers of government, transparency and prudent management of resources to ensure the benefits reach poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

On behalf of the World Bank Group, Mr. Mathew Verghis commended the Federal Government's commitment to human capital development, saying the programmes were designed to strengthen social protection, improve education and healthcare outcomes, expand economic opportunities 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, the rising cost of living and other socio-economic challenges.

The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to providing policy direction, 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 expressed confidence that the initiative would play a pivotal role in producing the skilled human capital required to drive sustainable economic growth and deliver the objectives of President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.