The Universal Basic Education Commission has warned state governments that access to funding under a $552.18m World Bank-supported education programme will depend on meeting agreed targets, urging them to make adequate provisions in their 2027 budgets.
The programme, known as Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity in Education (HOPE-EDU), targets 29 million children, 500,000 teachers, 65,000 public schools and 10,000 non-formal learning centres across Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, gave the warning during a two-day meeting with chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the commission on Wednesday, Garba said the programme became effective on February 27, 2026, and had entered its implementation phase.
She explained that the initiative uses a results-based financing model, under which funds are released based on the achievement of agreed performance targets and verification requirements.
Garba said several activities scheduled for the programme’s first year would require state governments to provide funding in their 2027 budgets.
She therefore urged SUBEB chairmen to brief their respective governors and secure the necessary political support and budgetary commitments to prevent delays in implementation.
“The success of HOPE-EDU rests on your shoulders. Let us work together to ensure that no state is left behind,” she said.
The programme also plans to support the construction of 13,000 classrooms, improve teaching quality, provide learning materials and expand access to basic education, particularly for children in underserved communities.
Garba said the initiative was organised around three major areas: improving the quality of basic education, expanding access and strengthening the systems responsible for delivering education services.
Of the programme’s funding allocation, $262.239m is earmarked for improving education quality, $123.9m for expanding access and $133.611m for strengthening key systems.
The first component is open to 33 states, with possible expansion to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, subject to participation in the HOPE-GOV programme.
The access component targets 15 states with the highest populations of out-of-school children that meet other eligibility requirements, while the systems-strengthening component is open to all 36 states and the FCT.
The programme will also promote structured teaching methods to improve pupils’ literacy and numeracy skills in primary schools.
Garba said effective implementation would require coordination among state ministries of education, SUBEBs, local education authorities, schools and school-based management committees.
Earlier, the HOPE-EDU Programme Manager, Olumayowa Aleshin, presented an overview of the initiative, including its funding arrangements, implementation targets and milestones.
The programme is expected to strengthen basic education delivery and widen access to learning for children across the country.
However, the commission’s warning places responsibility on state governments to provide the required funding and meet the performance conditions needed to access the programme’s benefits.
