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The federal government has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to spearhead the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) programme, an initiative designed to enhance the quality of education, healthcare and governance for the Nigerian people.
Chaired by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the committee brings together key government leaders as co-chairs, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate; the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa; and the Minister of Women Affairs, Dr. Muntanqa Umar-Sadiq. This high-level team is expected to develop a coherent roadmap for the implementation of the HOPE programme, aligning its objectives with Nigeria’s broader national development priorities.
Speaking at the inauguration, Senator Bagudu underscored the collaborative spirit behind the committee’s formation. “We are not competing, we are complementing each other to drive the HOPE project,” he said. He reiterated that the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning’s role is to coordinate and support, not to dominate, emphasizing the need for synergy among the ministries to ensure the programme’s success.
The HOPE programme, supported by the World Bank, aims to significantly improve essential public services while strengthening the nation’s long-term development trajectory. To ensure effective delivery, the committee will monitor the programme’s progress, evaluate disbursements to implementing agencies, review the operational framework, assess capacity-building efforts, and address any risks or challenges that might impede implementation.
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The Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is coordinating the effort through the HOPE Governance National Programme Coordinating Unit (NCPU), which also serves as the Secretariat for the programme. Led by Dr. Assad Hassan as National Coordinator, the NCPU is working closely with the Ministries of Health, Education, and Finance, both at the federal and sub-national levels, to ensure effective execution and oversight.
During the meeting, Ministers Edun, Pate, Alausa, and Suleiman-Ibrahim reaffirmed their full support for the initiative and commended its alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to reposition human capital as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic reform strategy. They emphasized that the President’s focus on education, health, and gender inclusion is central to lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty and laying the groundwork for inclusive growth.
In his opening remarks, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, highlighted the foundational goals of the HOPE project, stating that it was designed to help the federal government deliver more efficient and accessible services while supporting long-term national development. “The HOPE programme was designed to help the Federal Government strengthen essential services and promote long-term national development,” he noted.
As the government moves forward with this flagship initiative, the inauguration of the Inter-Ministerial Committee marks a significant milestone in its commitment to human capital development and shared prosperity for all Nigerians.
