Lagos begins grassroots push ahead of World Bank-backed HOPE-GOV rollout

The Lagos State Government is set to launch a statewide grassroots engagement campaign as it prepares for the full implementation of the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity-Governance (HOPE-GOV) Programme, a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at strengthening governance systems in basic education and primary healthcare.

The move signals a renewed push by the state to deepen public awareness, boost community participation and reinforce accountability mechanisms, particularly among vulnerable groups and underserved communities.

HOPE-GOV is a multi-sector reform programme targeting Nigeria’s human capital deficits through measurable improvements in learning outcomes and healthcare delivery. In Lagos, the initiative aligns with the THEMES Plus Agenda, with a focus on delivering impact at the grassroots level using a Program-for-Results (PforR) financing model.

Under the structure, funding is tied strictly to verified outcomes, ensuring that resources translate directly into measurable improvements in citizens’ welfare.

As part of the rollout, the state government will intensify engagement through grassroots media, community platforms and stakeholder forums to ensure widespread understanding and participation.

The programme will be executed through two core pillars.

The HOPE-EDU component will focus on foundational learning, targeting improved literacy and numeracy among early-grade pupils. It will drive the distribution of instructional materials to Primary 1–3 pupils, strengthen teacher capacity through mentoring and tackle out-of-school challenges through community-based interventions. Implementation is being led by the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in partnership with SUBEB.

The HOPE-PHC pillar will focus on revitalising primary healthcare, with emphasis on reducing maternal and child mortality. Planned interventions include the recruitment of over 2,500 health workers, rehabilitation of more than 50 primary healthcare centres with 24-hour solar-powered infrastructure, and expansion of access to essential health services in underserved areas. The programme is being coordinated by the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board alongside the Ministry of Health.

Beyond service delivery, the initiative is also expected to drive governance reforms, including addressing manpower gaps in the health sector, strengthening transparency through performance-based budgeting at the local government level, and reinvesting gains into long-term human capital development.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu underscored the programme’s impact-driven focus, stating: “The success of HOPE-GOV is not measured by money spent, but by the number of children who can read and the number of mothers who have access to quality, round-the-clock primary healthcare.”

Officials say the upcoming engagement campaign will combine traditional and community-based communication channels to ensure residents are informed, involved and positioned to benefit from the programme.

The state government reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and accountable governance aimed at improving living standards across Lagos.