FG Strengthens Education Reform Drive, Tasks States on Data, Partnership, $552m HOPE Programme

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to reposition Nigeria’s education sector, calling on state governments to embrace data-driven planning, stronger collaboration and innovative reforms to improve the quality of education across the country.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, made the call while speaking at the Executive Retreat for Honourable Commissioners of Education, where he underscored the critical role of partnerships between the Federal and State Governments in driving sustainable education reforms.

According to the minister, the successful deployment of the National Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI) and the Digitalised Nigeria Education Management Information System (DNEMIS) will provide reliable education data for planning, policy formulation, accountability and efficient allocation of resources across all levels of the education sector.

Alausa further urged states to maximise opportunities provided under the World Bank-supported HOPE Education Programme, which offers US$552 million in performance-based financing to enhance education governance, strengthen teacher capacity and improve learning outcomes. He advised participating states to complete the necessary implementation requirements to qualify for the available funding.

He reaffirmed that the Federal Government’s Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) remains central to ongoing reforms, with strategic priorities including improved foundational literacy and numeracy, expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, digital learning and sustainable education financing.

The minister reiterated the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to sustained collaboration with state governments, development partners and other stakeholders in building an inclusive, resilient and globally competitive education system capable of preparing Nigerian learners for the demands of the 21st-century economy.

The position of the ministry was contained in a statement issued by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Boriowo Folasade.