Anietie Udobit, Abuja
Nigeria is taking a bold step to tackle its out-of-school crisis as the Universal Basic Education Commission rolls out the HOPE-EDU programme—an ambitious intervention targeting 29 million children currently outside the classroom.
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Backed by funding from the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education, the $552.18 million initiative aims to transform access to basic education nationwide.
Speaking at the programme launch in Kano, UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, said the initiative will not only drive school enrolment but also improve education quality through teacher empowerment and infrastructure development.
The programme targets the training of 500,000 teachers and the construction of 13,000 classrooms, while introducing a results-based funding model that rewards states for measurable progress in reducing out-of-school numbers.
Kano State Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a major opportunity to strengthen public education and expand access for underserved communities. HOPE-EDU aligns with national education priorities and signals a renewed push to break the cycle of educational inequality in Nigeria.