World Bank Approves $1.08 Billion Loan to Nigeria for Education, Nutrition, Economic Resilience

The World Bank has sanctioned three financing operations amounting to $1.08 billion to aid Nigeria in the areas of education, nutrition, and economic resilience.

As stated on the bank’s website on Wednesday, the concessional loans are intended to enhance education quality, strengthen household and community resilience, and improve nutrition for underserved populations.

The statement read, “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 approved initiatives consist of $500 million in additional funding for the Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme, $80 million for the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN 2.0) programme, and $500 million for the Hope for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU) initiative.

The NG-CARES Programme, originally developed to mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, will help the government expand access to livelihood support, food security services, and grants for disadvantaged households.

The programme, which has already reached over 15 million beneficiaries, has evolved into a platform for multi-sector interventions, including social transfers, labour-intensive public works, livelihood grants, and support for small businesses. The additional funding seeks to extend the programme’s impact, particularly as Nigeria navigates economic difficulties stemming from the 2023 fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange rate unification.

The Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN 2.0) programme will improve access to essential nutrition services for pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and children under five. The initiative will prioritise maternal and child health, nutrition services, and food security in selected regions.

It aligns with Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021–2025) and the Multisectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition by focusing on preventive and curative nutrition interventions, enhanced feeding practices, and increased access to micronutrient-rich foods. ANRIN 2.0 builds on the achievements of its predecessor, which delivered nutrition services to over 13 million children under five between 2018 and 2024.

The Hope for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU) initiative, as part of a broader set of interrelated operations, aims to improve foundational literacy and numeracy, expand access to basic education, and reinforce education systems across participating states.

The project is expected to directly impact 29 million public primary school pupils, 500,000 teachers, and more than 65,000 public primary schools. It will also tackle issues such as school overcrowding and decentralised education fund allocation. Additionally, HOPE-EDU will receive $52.18 million in co-financing from the Global Partnership for Education Fund.

Commenting on the initiative, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Ndiamé Diop, said, “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.”

Diop further stated that the ANRIN interventions would enhance access to micronutrient-rich foods and nutrition services at the primary healthcare level, while the NG-CARES funding would assist Nigeria in shifting from pandemic response to long-term resilience amid ongoing economic challenges.