The Federal Government has unlocked $552 million in HOPE-EDU funding to accelerate and strengthen basic education reform nationwide.

According to the Federal Ministry of Education, the initiative is designed to improve foundational learning, expand access to quality basic education, and strengthen education systems across participating states.

The programme aligns with the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, NESRI, supporting measurable and accountable sector-wide reforms anchored on transparency and results.

The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the achievement as a defining moment in Nigeria’s education transformation journey.

The Minister stated that Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the administration has demonstrated that reform could be decisive, accountable, and impactful. He emphasized that these resources will directly strengthen foundational learning, expand access, and reinforce system-wide accountability across participating states.

He added that since 2022, federal allocation to education has increased by over 302 per cent, reflecting the administration’s sustained prioritization of human capital development.

According to Alausa, in the 2026 fiscal year alone, ₦3.520 trillion has been allocated to the sector, the highest allocation to date, complemented by increased sub-national funding to address local priorities and implement targeted interventions.

The HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All, HOPE-EDU programme, is a strategic, results-driven initiative, co-financed by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education, to improve foundational learning outcomes, expand equitable access to quality basic education, and strengthen institutional capacity and accountability across participating states.