Tunji Alausa, minister of education, has called on state governments to take full advantage of the World Bank-supported Hope for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU) programme, which provides $552 million in performance-based financing to subnationals to boost Nigeria’s basic education sector.

 

Alausa spoke on Tuesday during the opening of the five-day executive retreat for commissioners of education, organised by the Committee of States’ Commissioners of Education (COSCEN) in Abuja.

 

BACKGROUND

In March 2026, the federal government announced the unlocking of the $552 million HOPE-EDU financing to fast-track reforms aimed at improving foundational learning, expanding access and strengthening education systems across participating states.

 

According to the World Bank, disbursements under the project are tied to verifiable results, including increased enrolment, improved learning outcomes and other critical reforms.

 

The project seeks to benefit about 30 million children and 500,000 teachers across 65,000 public schools and 10,000 non-formal learning centres nationwide.

 

A statement by Ikharo Attah, special adviser on media and communications to Alausa, said the “minister observed that although all 36 states are eligible to benefit from the programme, several are yet to complete critical requirements, including signing Subsidiary Loan Agreements (SLAs), opening designated programme accounts and fulfilling mandatory data reporting obligations”.

 

 

He urged the commissioners to work closely with the education ministry and the World Bank to meet the programme-for-results requirements and unlock additional resources to improve access, learning outcomes and education governance.

 

The minister said Nigeria’s education reforms can only succeed through stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments and a deliberate shift to data-driven decision-making.

 

Describing education as the nation’s most powerful tool for economic growth, national security and sustainable development, Alausa said President Bola Tinubu has placed the sector at the centre of the Renewed Hope agenda by providing the political leadership and support needed to pursue bold reforms capable of transforming Nigeria’s education system.

 

He said while the federal government provides policy direction and strategic interventions, the responsibility for delivering quality education rests largely with the states, making stronger collaboration indispensable to achieving meaningful and lasting reforms.

 

 

The minister commended COSCEN for convening the retreat, describing it as a timely platform for strengthening strategic leadership, fostering peer learning and deepening cooperation among education stakeholders across the country.

 

He described the transition from assumption-based planning to evidence-based governance as one of the most significant reforms underway in Nigeria’s education sector.

 

Alausa said the deployment of the National Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI) and the Digitalised Nigeria Education Management Information System (DNEMIS) would provide real-time information on learner enrolment, teacher deployment, school infrastructure, learning outcomes and other critical indicators needed for effective planning, budgeting, monitoring and resource allocation.

 

The minister urged all states to complete their annual school census using the digitised platform, commending Kaduna and Borno states for their progress while encouraging others to accelerate implementation.

 

 

‘DIGITAL DASHBOARD DEPLOYED’

He noted that the ministry has already deployed digital dashboards and smart boards to support evidence-based planning, with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) providing additional analytical support to strengthen education planning nationwide.

 

“To sustain reform momentum, the Minister proposed that the Council of State Commissioners of Education institutionalise quarterly review meetings to promote peer learning, monitor progress, exchange best practices and strengthen collective accountability across the federation,” the statement reads.

 

“He, however, cautioned against investing exclusively in expensive smart school infrastructure without adequate provisions for sustainability and maintenance, stressing that quality instructional materials, effective teacher support and conducive learning environments remain the most critical drivers of improved learning outcomes.”

 

The minister reaffirmed that education remains a shared national responsibility that transcends political affiliations and called on all stakeholders to institutionalise reliable education data, strengthen accountability, invest in human capital and sustain collaborative reforms capable of delivering measurable improvements in learning outcomes.

 

Among the dignitaries at the event were Osita Chidoka, former minister of aviation, who delivered the keynote address; Mathew Verghis, senior economist representing the World Bank country director; and Shin Nomura, task team leader for the HOPE Education Programme.

 

Verghis said the programme became effective in March 2026 and is designed to improve education governance, financing, teacher development, learning outcomes and data systems through a performance-based financing model.

 

He urged states to complete all preparatory requirements to enable timely access to the programme’s funding.