The World Bank has approved $500 million for the Hope for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU) initiative, a major investment aimed at improving foundational literacy and numeracy, increasing access to basic education, and strengthening education systems in Nigeria.
According to a statement on the World Bank’s website, the HOPE-EDU initiative is part of a broader $1.08 billion concessional financing package for Nigeria, which also includes funding for nutrition and economic resilience.
The education-focused funding will directly benefit 29 million public primary school pupils, 500,000 teachers, and more than 65,000 public primary schools, addressing key challenges such as school overcrowding and inadequate education funding.
World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Ndiamé Diop, emphasized the importance of investing in human capital to unlock Nigeria’s potential.
“These new programmes will help accelerate education quality and support vulnerable citizens. The HOPE-EDU programme will enable better education outcomes by implementing bold reforms and making the right investments to equip the fast-growing young population with foundational skills necessary for rapid and inclusive economic growth,” Diop stated.
In addition to the $500 million from the World Bank, the Global Partnership for Education Fund will provide an extra $52.18 million to further strengthen Nigeria’s basic education sector.
With Nigeria’s growing population and ongoing economic challenges, this initiative marks a significant step toward ensuring that millions of children receive quality education, setting the foundation for long-term national development.
