The Nigerian federal government has initiated the implementation of the World Bank-assisted Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity–Governance (HOPE-GOV) Program, a significant credit facility valued at $500 million. This initiative is aimed at enhancing financial and human resource management in the sectors of basic education and primary healthcare throughout the country.
During a briefing held in Abuja, Dr. Assad Hassan, the National Coordinator of the HOPE-Governance Program, provided an overview of the program to Dr. Deborah O. N. Odoh, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. According to the communication officer, John Mutah, Dr. Hassan noted that the program’s financing is divided into two primary components: the Program for Results and Investment Project Financing.
The majority of the funding, approximately $480 million, is designated to incentivize states in achieving specific Disbursement Linked Results in education and healthcare. The remaining $20 million is allocated for Investment Project Financing, which encompasses three critical areas of implementation: program coordination, verification of results at the state level, and technical assistance for various implementing agencies.
Dr. Hassan articulated the program’s objectives, which include increasing financing for both education and healthcare, enhancing transparency and accountability in budgeting processes, and supporting the recruitment of teachers and primary healthcare workers. He emphasized the need to address manpower gaps in these essential sectors.
In his remarks, Dr. Hassan stated, “For HOPE-Governance, our primary objective is to see how we improve financial and human resource management in these two sectors by focusing on three key areas: the first is an increase in funding for the two sectors. We are working with the Universal Basic Education Commission as well as the Ministerial Oversight Committee on the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.”
The program also aims to bolster transparency and accountability in budgeting and auditing, thereby improving public financial management within both sectors. The third area of focus is to facilitate better recruitment and retention of educators and healthcare professionals.
As part of the program’s framework, states will be monitored through six Disbursement Linked Indicators, which will be assessed by independent verification agents before any funds are released. Dr. Hassan elaborated on the program’s timeline, revealing that the World Bank approved the HOPE-GOV Program on September 26, 2024, following successful negotiations for the financing agreement in August of that year. Subsequently, the Federal Executive Council granted approval in February 2025, and the financing agreement was countersigned by the federal government in April 2025. The program officially commenced in September 2025.
To date, all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have shown interest in participating in the program, with subsidiary agreements now being dispatched for signing. Dr. Hassan explained that through the Program for Results, state governments will be encouraged to invest in the Disbursement Linked Indicators and will receive incentives for their achievements.
“The way the program is designed, you achieve something this year and you get incentivized so that you put that money back to work on the second year results,” he noted.
In her response, Dr. Deborah O. N. Odoh expressed her commitment to supporting the program in achieving its goals, commending the initiative for its achievements within its initial implementation phase. The HOPE-GOV Program represents a proactive step towards improving Nigeria’s education and healthcare systems, aiming to create a more equitable and prosperous future for its citizens.
