UBEC seeks multi-stakeholder partnerships in implementing $552m HOPE programme

According to her, the programme aligns with, and reinforces Nigeria’s Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), supporting measurable and accountable sector-wide reforms anchored on transparency and results.

She said HOPE-Edu and HOPE-Gov are funding mechanisms supporting UBE programme in basic education.

Hajiya Garba asserted that the programme aligned seamlessly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, an initiative targeting the heart of the challenges in basic education by improving learning outcomes for over 29 million children, empowering 500,000 teachers, constructing 13,000 classrooms, bringing millions of out of school children back to school nationwide.

According to her, the objectives are not abstract goals.

The UBEC chief said: “They are actionable interventions, and our commissioners, SUBEB Chairs, and directors here present are responsible for the success of this programme in your respective states.

“The Federal Ministry of Education and UBEC, as the federal agencies, will channel these resources and technical support to your states, but the implementation happens at the grassroots; through you. You will lead needs assessments, community mobilisation, engagement and sensitisation, and on-the-ground execution.

“We must be candid about the road ahead. We have no option but to work together as key stakeholders for basic education in our respective states. The HOPE Programme is our turning point, but its success hinges on transparency, accountability and collaboration.

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“I urge you to foster multi-stakeholder partnerships by engaging local governments, civil societies, parents, and private sector allies. Let us commit to rigorous monitoring, using the digital dashboards we will roll out, to track every Naira, every activity and every milestone.

“Above all, let us work with all children and especially the most marginalised; the special need, Girl Child, the vulnerable and the children in conflict zones. Their education is not charity; it is the cornerstone of our democracy and economy.

“As we embark on this sensitisation journey today, I call on each of you to discuss, deliberate, and depart with concrete action plans. Share your challenges openly so we can co-create solutions.

Let us verb our way to a Nigeria where learning is strengthened to track progress and outcomes, improve quality, enhance continuous teacher capacity development and career advancement, improve availability and quality of TLMs for schools. With all these in place, quality education is guaranteed for every Nigeria Child.”

Unlike past programmes where money was budgeted but rarely tracked, HOPE-EDU ties every naira to measurable outcomes: literacy rates, teacher attendance, classroom availability, and enrolment data — monitored in real time.

However, issues bordering on how to implement the programme, commencement of service year, focal person and procurement were discussed.