In an update published by Premium Times, the Federal Government has unveiled the “HOPE-EDU” reform, a massive educational initiative aimed at bringing 10 million out-of-school children back into the classroom. The program focuses on the 8,809 wards across the country, providing incentives for enrollment and school feeding.
The Minister of Education stated that the reform would leverage digital tracking to ensure that every child enrolled actually remains in the system. The initiative is being funded through a combination of federal budget allocations and international grants from the World Bank and UNICEF.
Leadership and ThisDay confirmed the launch of the program. Leadership reported that “the North-central and Northwest regions will be the primary focus of the first phase,” while ThisDay quoted the Minister: “We cannot build a modern economy if 10 million of our future workers cannot read or write.”
Echotitbits take: This is a long-overdue investment in human capital. The “out-of-school” crisis is a ticking time bomb for security and economic growth. The success of HOPE-EDU will depend entirely on the transparency of the funding and the cooperation of state governments.
Source: Premium Times – https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/861252-nigerian-govt-targets-10-million-out-of-school-children-through-hope-edu-reform.html, March 4, 2026
Photo credit: Premium Times
