UBEC targets 29 million children in $552.18m World Bank basic education grant

…appeals to govs on commitment to implementation

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has said the $552.18 million World Bank grant for Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE-EDU) programme is targeting 29 million children, 500,000 teachers, 65,000 public schools and 10,000 non-formal learning centres across Nigeria.

The programme also targets the construction of 13,000 new classrooms as part of efforts to improve learning outcomes, expand access to quality basic education and strengthen service delivery across the country.

The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, disclosed this at a two-day meeting with chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) on implementation readiness for the programme on Tuesday in Abuja.

Garba, who appealed to state governments to demonstrate the political will and financial commitment required to achieve the programme’s objectives, said HOPE-EDU became effective on February 27, 2026, and had entered its implementation phase.

She explained that the programme, a Federal Government initiative supported by the World Bank, adopts a results-based financing approach under which disbursements are linked to the achievement of agreed targets and performance indicators.

According to her, the initiative is designed to improve learning outcomes, increase equitable access to basic education and strengthen governance and accountability in the education sector.

She said it builds on the implementation of the Universal Basic Education programme and complements other government interventions in governance and primary healthcare.

Garba explained that HOPE-EDU was structured around three result areas: improving the quality of basic education, increasing access to education and strengthening key systems.

She said $262.239 million had been allocated to improving education quality, $123.9 million to expanding access, and $133.611 million to strengthening key systems.

According to her, the first result area is open to 33 states, with the possibility of extending participation to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, subject to participation in the HOPE-GOV operations.

She added that the second result area targets 15 states with the largest populations of out-of-school children that also meet other eligibility requirements, while the third is open to all 36 states and the FCT.

The UBEC boss said the programme places emphasis on improving teaching quality, providing essential learning resources and raising learning achievement among pupils in participating states.

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She added that the initiative would promote the adoption of the Structured Pedagogy Programme (SPP) to improve the teaching of literacy and numeracy in primary schools.

Garba stressed that successful implementation would require effective coordination among state ministries of education, SUBEBs, Local Education Authorities, schools and School-Based Management Committees.

She, however, warned that achieving the programme’s targets would depend largely on the commitment of state governors and other relevant authorities to providing the necessary policy direction and budgetary support.

The UBEC executive secretary urged SUBEB chairmen to brief their respective state executives on the programme and secure their support for the timely implementation of its activities.

She particularly highlighted the importance of the 2027 state budgets, noting that several disbursement-linked indicators required states to make adequate financial provisions for programme activities.

According to her, many of the deliverables scheduled for the programme’s first year would depend on the inclusion of relevant activities and allocations in the 2027 budgets.

She said the programme, introduced under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was intended to ensure that every child, particularly those from marginalised communities, rural areas and out-of-school populations, had equitable opportunities to access quality education.

Garba charged SUBEB chairmen, as key implementers of basic education at the state level, to take ownership of the initiative and ensure that their respective states met the agreed targets and disbursement-linked indicators.

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

She urged participants to contribute actively to discussions during the meeting and return to their respective states as advocates for effective implementation.

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

Earlier, the Programme Manager of HOPE-EDU, Mr Olumayowa Aleshin, presented an overview of the programme, including its funding structure, implementation targets and key milestones.

The programme’s implementation framework requires participating states to meet specified performance targets and verification requirements to qualify for the corresponding disbursements.

The initiative is expected to support improvements in teaching and learning, expand educational opportunities for underserved populations and strengthen the systems needed to deliver quality basic education across Nigeria.