HOPE-EDU: UBEC Boss Leads Call for Nationwide Education Transformation as Kano Reaffirms Commitment:

By JB Danlami

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, has called on state-level education leaders to take decisive action in implementing the HOPE-EDU and HOPE-Governance programmes, describing the initiative as a turning point for Nigeria’s basic education sector.

Garba made the call during a high-level sensitization workshop held at the Hilton Palace Hotel in Kano, which brought together Commissioners of Education, Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), and other key stakeholders from across the country.

In her keynote address, she highlighted that the HOPE-EDU and HOPE-GOV programmes are backed by a $552.18 million investment from the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), aimed at improving learning outcomes for over 29 million children nationwide.

She noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and focuses on empowering 500,000 teachers, constructing 13,000 classrooms, and reducing the number of out-of-school children across Nigeria.

According to her, while the Federal Ministry of Education and UBEC will provide funding and technical support, the responsibility for implementation lies with state governments and local education authorities.

“The success of this programme depends on transparency, accountability, and collaboration. We must track progress, engage communities, and ensure that every resource translates into real impact in our schools,” she stated.

Garba further emphasized the need to prioritize inclusion, particularly for vulnerable groups such as girls, children with special needs, and those in conflict-affected areas, stressing that education is central to national development.

In his address, the Kano State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the successful implementation of HOPE-EDU, noting that Kano has already taken significant steps to align with the programme’s objectives.

He said the state has increased budgetary allocation to education, recruited teachers at scale, invested in infrastructure, and introduced various learning improvement initiatives.

However, he stressed that the real focus must now shift to outcomes rather than inputs.

“Education remains the foundation of our development, and HOPE-EDU provides a structured approach to strengthening learning, improving accountability, and ensuring that our investments deliver measurable results,” he said.

Makoda added that Kano State is integrating HOPE-EDU into its broader education reform agenda, with clear priorities including improving infrastructure, strengthening teacher management systems, enhancing data-driven decision-making, expanding access, and promoting inclusion and equity.

He assured stakeholders of the state’s readiness to implement the programme effectively, emphasizing transparency, consistent progress tracking, and early resolution of challenges.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB Kano, Mallam Yusuf Kabir, underscored the critical role of effective implementation at the school level in determining the success of the programme.

He explained that SUBEB’s mandate is to translate policies into tangible results in schools, noting that strong systems, accountability, and structured monitoring are key to achieving this goal.

Yusuf Kabir revealed that the board has been strengthening supervision processes, improving teacher support, and enhancing community engagement through School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs).

“We are moving beyond routine supervision to more structured and meaningful monitoring that focuses on what is being delivered in classrooms and how well it is being delivered,” he said.

He added that SUBEB is committed to improving data use for decision-making, ensuring proper utilization of resources, and strengthening school improvement processes.

“The truth is simple—if implementation is weak at the school level, the programme will not succeed. That is why we are fully committed to ensuring strong execution,” he emphasized.

The workshop is expected to produce actionable strategies and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, as participants deliberate on practical approaches to improving education delivery across Nigeria.

The event marks a significant step toward advancing basic education reforms, with renewed optimism that the HOPE-EDU initiative will drive lasting improvements in teaching and learning nationwide.