FG unlocks $552m HOPE-EDU fund to boost basic education reform
President Bola Tinubu
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured $552 million under the HOPE-EDU programme to drive nationwide reforms in basic education, marking a significant step in repositioning the sector as a key engine for national development.
This was made known in a statement signed Tuesday by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education.
The funding aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision, as highlighted by Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa.
He described it as “the fastest activation of education financing of this scale in Nigeria’s history, achieved within 12 months.”
The minister added that the funds will “strengthen foundational learning, expand access to quality basic education, and reinforce accountability across participating states.”
The HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU) initiative, co-financed by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education, supports reforms under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).
This comes amid a sharp rise in federal education spending, with ₦3.520 trillion allocated in the 2026 budget—the highest ever since 2022.
The Ministry thereby reaffirmed, “its commitment to ensuring that these investments deliver tangible improvements in learning outcomes, teacher effectiveness, equitable access, and system-wide accountability.”
