20 Nigerian States Qualify for $27 Million World Bank Performance Grants

Twenty Nigerian states have qualified to receive a combined $27 million in performance-based grants under the World Bank-supported Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Governance Programme after meeting reform targets in education, primary healthcare and public financial management.

The funding rewards measurable progress rather than promises, encouraging states to strengthen planning, budgeting, transparency and service delivery.

The announcement was made on Tuesday in Abuja by the National Coordinator of the HOPE Governance Programme, Dr. Assad Hassan, during a retreat for Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Budget and Planning.

According to Hassan, the grants were awarded after an independent assessment by the Interim Independent Verification Agent (IVA), which verified states' performance against the programme's Year Zero Disbursement-Linked Results (DLRs).

Bayelsa, Borno, Kano, Kebbi and Yobe each qualified for $1.5 million under DLR 2.1 for adopting comprehensive guidelines for consolidated basic education work plans. The same states also earned another $1.5 million each under DLR 2.2 for adopting comprehensive guidelines for consolidated primary healthcare work plans.

Under DLR 2.3, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Gombe, Kano, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe will each receive $500,000 after adopting harmonised local government budget guidelines and a standard chart of accounts.

Another 15 states of Abia, Bayelsa, Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Plateau and Yobe, qualified for $500,000 each under DLR 4.1 after publishing their 2025 Citizens' Budgets for basic education and primary healthcare.

Hassan said other participating states did not qualify because they failed to meet the required benchmarks, missed submission deadlines or did not publish the required documents on their official websites.

The HOPE Governance Programme is a $500 million World Bank-backed initiative domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. It was launched in December 2025 to strengthen financing, transparency, accountability and workforce management across Nigeria's basic education and primary healthcare sectors.

Of the total funding, $480 million has been set aside for performance-based grants, while the remaining $20 million will provide technical assistance, institutional strengthening and implementation support. The programme is being implemented in partnership with state governments, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund oversight structures, and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

The World Bank approved the programme in September 2024 after negotiations concluded a month earlier. The Federal Executive Council approved the financing agreement in February 2025 before it was countersigned in April and became effective in September 2025.

By linking funding to verified reforms, the HOPE Governance Programme is expected to help states improve planning, financial management, transparency and the delivery of quality education and primary healthcare services across Nigeria.

Nigerian Olayinka Babalola Makes History as Rotary International President

Nigeria has reached another significant milestone on the global stage as Olayinka Hakeem Babalola is sworn in on Wednesday, July 1, as President of Rotary International, becoming only the second African to lead one of the world's largest humanitarian service organisations.

A member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Babalola will oversee Rotary International's network of more than 45,000 clubs worldwide during his one-year tenure. According to the organisation, his administration will focus on strengthening peacebuilding efforts while advancing sustainable, community-led solutions to local and global challenges.

Babalola brings decades of experience in community development, public health and peacebuilding across Africa. He has also been actively involved with Rotary's Peace Center at Makerere University in Uganda.

Speaking ahead of his inauguration, he said Rotary empowers people to transform their communities while building meaningful relationships and appreciating different perspectives. He added that, at a time of growing division and uncertainty, the organisation has an important role in promoting understanding, advancing peace and creating opportunities for communities to thrive. As president, he said he intends to strengthen and expand that impact worldwide.

One of his key responsibilities will be leading Rotary International's continued campaign to eradicate polio. Through its partnership with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary says global polio cases have fallen by 99.9 percent. The organisation has also contributed more than $3 billion, alongside extensive volunteer support, to protect over three billion children from the disease.

Babalola has played an active role in that mission, serving on the End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign Committee and as an adviser to the Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee.

Over the past century, Rotary International, through the Rotary Foundation, has provided more than $5.5 billion in grants and support for projects focused on disease prevention, peacebuilding, clean water access, education, maternal and child health, and economic development.

Babalola's inauguration comes as Rotary International continues to expand its humanitarian work across the world. His leadership will see the organisation build on all its longstanding efforts and focus  during the year ahead.