Nigeria launches $552 million education program with international support
It targets 29 million students and 500,000 teachers
Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:
The Nigerian government launched on Thursday, national program To develop basic education with a value of $552 million, jointly funded by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education, in a step aimed at improving the quality of education, expanding school enrollment opportunities, and enhancing the efficiency of the education system in the country.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, speaking at the launch ceremony of the HOPE-EDU program in the capital Abuja, said the initiative will provide direct support to approximately 29 million students, more than 500,000 teachers, along with 65,000 government schools and 10,000 non-formal education centers across Nigeria.
Nigeria launches a package of 5 national programs to accelerate poverty reduction
Tinobo explained that the program is part of a package of 5 national programs aimed at accelerating efforts to reduce poverty, develop human capital, promote community development, and improve healthcare services.
The Nigerian president stressed that these initiatives represent an integrated national strategy, not separate programs, noting that they aim to improve the quality of life through investment in education, health and social protection.
He said: “These programs are not separate efforts, but rather represent a unified national strategy to reduce poverty, develop human capital, and enhance the ability of communities to face challenges.”
The launch of the program comes as part of the broad economic reforms implemented by Tinopo since he took office in 2023, which included the elimination of fuel and electricity subsidies, the liberalization of the exchange rate of the local currency (the naira), along with the implementation of tax reforms aimed at boosting public revenues and improving public finances.
Tinobo noted that the government, through these initiatives, seeks to translate the results of economic reforms into tangible gains for citizens by improving education and healthcare services, strengthening social protection networks, and raising the standard of living.
