Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: human capital

  • Nigeria and World Bank roll out $500m HOPE-GOV programme for schools and PHC

    Nigeria and World Bank roll out $500m HOPE-GOV programme for schools and PHC

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-24 06:48:00

    Figures cited by Punch show Nigeria and the World Bank are implementing a $500 million programme—HOPE-Governance—targeting system improvements in basic education and primary healthcare, with emphasis on financing, transparency, and workforce management.

    Officials say the design aims to strengthen budgeting and accountability in the two sectors, while also addressing staffing and performance management problems that keep outcomes weak even when funds are budgeted.

    The broader pitch is that “inputs” (money, staff) must translate into measurable outcomes: better teaching coverage and stronger primary health services—especially at the state level where delivery performance varies sharply.

    Government sources describe the programme as a structured, multi-year reform push rather than a one-off cash injection.

    A federal ministry statement noted the facility would “increase the availability and effectiveness for financing for basic education and primary health care,” while describing the World Bank support as a “Five Hundred Million Dollar loan facility” for HOPE.

    Echotitbits take: The money is the easy part; execution is the fight. Watch for state-level transparency rules, public reporting of results, and whether teacher/PHC staffing reforms survive local politics. If outcomes are tied to disbursement, states may finally take performance management seriously.

    Source: The Punch — December 24, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-wbank-partner-on-500m-human-capital-reforms/#:~:text=The%20Federal%20Government%2C%20in%20partnership,primary%20healthcare%20across%20the%20country.)
    The Punch 2025-12-24

  • NELFUND says student loan disbursements top ₦154bn as beneficiaries near 789,000

    NELFUND says student loan disbursements top ₦154bn as beneficiaries near 789,000

    Photo Credit: Daily Post Nigeria
    2025-12-21 09:30:00

    Figures cited by The Nation show the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says it has supported 788,947 students with disbursements of over ₦154 billion since the student loan scheme began.

    The update frames the programme as a major access-to-education intervention, pointing to high demand for tertiary education financing.

    The policy impact will be judged not only by approvals, but by how it affects dropout rates, fee defaults, and the financial stability of institutions.

    The Guardian reported NELFUND “has disbursed… ₦154,373,551,374.00” to 788,947 students, while ThisDay wrote the fund “disbursed more than N154 billion” to support the same beneficiary count.

    Echotitbits take:
    The next test is governance: publish clearer dashboards, tighten verification, and communicate repayment terms early. Watch also for how universities adjust fees once loan inflows become predictable.

    Source: The Nation — December 21, 2025 (https://dailypost.ng/2025/11/30/nelfund-records-1-19m-applicants-disburses-loan-to-788000-students/)
    The Nation 2025-12-21

  • Dangote Unveils N1tn Education Fund for 1.3 Million Students

    Dangote Unveils N1tn Education Fund for 1.3 Million Students

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has announced a N100‑billion‑per‑year education initiative that will run for 10 years and support about 1.3 million Nigerian students across all 774 local government areas. The scheme, under the Dangote Education Fund, will cover undergraduates, technical students and secondary‑school girls, with special focus on STEM and areas with high out‑of‑school rates.

    The programme includes scholarships, tools for technical trainees and large‑scale teacher‑training support, backed by a digital, merit‑based verification and disbursement system. Dangote said he is committing a significant portion of his personal wealth to the foundation, while government officials hailed the initiative as a major boost for human‑capital development.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12

  • Tinubu Says Nigeria’s Real Wealth Is Citizens’ Creativity, Not Oil

    Tinubu Says Nigeria’s Real Wealth Is Citizens’ Creativity, Not Oil

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria’s future prosperity depends more on the creativity and innovation of its citizens than on crude oil revenues. Speaking at a public event, he argued that human capital, entrepreneurship and digital skills are the true drivers of a $1‑trillion economy, while natural resources should be treated as enablers rather than the core of national wealth.

    Tinubu urged policymakers, investors and young people to embrace productivity, technology and value‑addition across sectors, pledging continued reforms to remove obstacles facing businesses and innovators. The remarks reinforce the administration’s push for economic diversification and investments in education, tech talent and creative industries.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12

  • Shettima Launches N1tr Dangote Education Fund, Hails Private Sector

    Shettima Launches N1tr Dangote Education Fund, Hails Private Sector

    Photo Credit:The Nation

    Vice‑President Kashim Shettima has formally inaugurated the N1‑trillion Dangote Education Fund in Lagos, describing it as the largest private education support programme in Nigeria. The initiative will provide scholarships and support to 1.3 million students over 10 years, complementing government schemes such as NELFUND, UBEC and TETFUND.

    Shettima said the fund shows how private capital can accelerate national development and warned that an uneducated population is a liability to the country’s future. Education officials and state governors pledged full cooperation, while experts lauded the long‑term impact of the programme on social mobility and productivity.

    Source: The Nation – 12 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 The Nation – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12

  • Shettima Urges Whole-of-Society Response to Out-of-School Crisis

    Vice President Kashim Shettima described Nigeria’s out-of-school population as a national emergency, urging coordinated action among federal, state and local governments and private partners. He spoke at the 2025 Nigeria Education Forum hosted with the NGF and the Education Ministry.

    The event highlighted the need for sustainable financing, improved learning infrastructure and targeted interventions to reduce dropout rates, particularly in vulnerable regions.

    2025-12-10

    Vanguard

    2025-12-10