The Gombe State Executive Council has approved N6.1bn as the state’s counterpart funding for the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity-Education programme.
The approval, according to the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Maigari, makes the state eligible to participate in the World Bank-supported HOPE-EDU programme, a Federal Government initiative designed to improve foundational education delivery nationwide.
Maigari disclosed this in a circular signed by Nasiru Saidu, which was obtained on Monday.
She said the approval reflected the commitment of the Inuwa administration to transforming education into a key driver of human capital development.
“The Gombe State Executive Council has approved the sum of N6.1bn as the state counterpart fund for the HOPE-EDU programme.
“With this approval, Gombe State has now fully qualified to benefit from the World Bank-supported HOPE-EDU programme,” the commissioner said.
She explained that the initiative would target improved learning outcomes in basic schools, reduction in the number of out-of-school children, recruitment and deployment of qualified teachers, as well as the strengthening of the basic education system.
According to her, the programme would also enhance transparency and accountability through the Track and Trace Initiative, which would facilitate real-time monitoring of beneficiaries and the use of funds.
Maigari said the state’s counterpart contribution was consistent with the administration’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4, which focuses on quality education.
“The N6.1bn counterpart funding demonstrates the commitment of the Inuwa Yahaya administration to repositioning the education sector as a driver of human capital development, in line with global best practices and Sustainable Development Goal 4,” she said.
The commissioner, assuring that the Ministry of Education would ensure the funds were managed prudently and transparently to meet the programme’s objectives, further said, “We will ensure prudent, transparent and judicious utilisation of the funds to achieve the desired objectives of the programme for the benefit of every child in Gombe State.”
