By Uche Usim
The World Bank has granted approval for three financing operations totaling $1.08 billion to bolster education, nutrition and economic resilience in Nigeria. According to a statement released on the bank’s website on Wednesday, these concessional loans are aimed at improving the quality of education, enhancing household and community resilience, and addressing nutrition gaps for underserved populations.
“The World Bank has approved three operations in Nigeria, totaling $1.08 billion in concessional financing, to enhance education quality, build household and community resilience, and improve nutrition for underserved groups,” the statement read.
The approved funding includes $500 million in additional financing for the Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme, $80 million for Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN 2.0), and $500 million for the Hope for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU) initiative.
The NG-CARES Programme, which was initially designed to mitigate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, will now extend its support to enhance access to livelihood services, food security, and grants for poor and vulnerable households. Having already benefited over 15 million people, the programme has expanded its scope to include shock-responsive interventions such as social transfers, labour-intensive public works, livelihood grants, and small business support. The new financing aims to extend its reach, particularly as Nigeria navigates the economic challenges resulting from the 2023 fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange rate unification.
Meanwhile, the ANRIN 2.0 programme will improve access to high-quality nutrition services for pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and children under five. Focused on boosting maternal and child health, nutrition, and food security, the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021–2025) and the Multisectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition. The programme will emphasize preventive and curative nutrition interventions, better feeding practices, and greater access to micronutrient-rich foods.
Dr. Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, commented on the importance of these investments, saying, “Investing in human capital is critical for Nigeria as it offers the best opportunity to unlock the enormous potential of Nigeria. These new programmes will help accelerate education quality and support vulnerable citizens.
The HOPE-EDU programme will enable better education outcomes by implementing bold reforms and making the right investments to equip the fast-growing young population with foundational skills necessary for rapid and inclusive economic growth.”
Dr. Diop further noted that the ANRIN 2.0 interventions would improve access to essential nutrition services and micronutrient-rich foods at the primary healthcare level, while the NG-CARES financing would play a key role in helping Nigeria transition from pandemic response to long-term resilience amid ongoing economic challenges.