*As LASG holds World Bank-Supported HOPE Initiative Public Sensitisation
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has formally launched an e-learning platform and free academic materials for students in Public Schools, signaling a new phase of the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity – (HOPE) initiative.
The launch held at the Lagos House in Marina during a public sensitisation and presentation of Lagos State’s Significant Strides ceremony, organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget on Thursday.
The HOPE initiative, introduced in 2025, integrates reforms across three pillars: primary healthcare, education and governance (HOPE-GOV) — targeting long-standing structural gaps in public service delivery. With the new phase take-off, it aims at provision and distribution of free literacy and numeracy books for all pupils in Primary 1-6; free literacy, numeracy and science books for all students in Junior Secondary School classes 1-3, upgrading of Primary Health Care Centres, as well as optimising efficiency of service delivery.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, reeling out significant achievements the state has recorded in relation to the HOPE initiative, pointed to improvements in foundational learning tools for students, construction and rehabilitation of over 1,000 classrooms, expansion of digital education platforms and recruitment of thousands of teachers with continuous capacity development in the education sector.
In healthcare, he said “Lagos State now has over 330 functional Primary Healthcare Centres, many of which have been rehabilitated or upgraded under our ongoing health sector reforms, expansion of the health insurance coverage, recruitment and deployment of more qualified medical personnel and investing in modern medical infrastructure and digital health solutions to improve efficiency.
“Flagship investments like the ongoing development of the Massey Children’s Hospital will significantly boost specialized paediatric care; along with programmes such as the distribution of Mama Kits are improving maternal and child health outcomes, while reducing the financial burden on families.”
Under Governance reforms under the initiative, the governor said successes were recorded with intentional planning and disciplined execution in strengthening fiscal transparency, improving budget credibility and enhancing accountability mechanisms, even at the local government level.
He reiterated that the reforms were designed to ensure sustainability through performance-based systems and data-driven policy implementation, adding that “Investments in these sectors are not only made, but are efficiently managed, transparently tracked, and translated into real benefits for citizens.”
Commending Governor Sanwo-Olu’s investments in education and the impact of the HOPE-GOV initiative, Chairman of the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, Hon. Olumoh Saad Lukman, cited the newly built Tolu Schools Complex, which comprises 36 schools located in Ajeromi Ifelodun area of Ajegunle, described the facility as well-equipped with modern learning infrastructure.
He underscored the government’s commitment to building a stronger future through education, calling on development partners to visit the area and witness the transformation firsthand.
Speaking at the event, World Bank representative, Akin Onimole, said independent audits of the programme indicated “quality delivery” in its implementation, particularly in procurement systems and execution standards. The assessment, he noted, reflects growing efficiency in how public resources are deployed within the state.
Similarly, Celine Lafoucriere of UNICEF described Lagos’ progress as a “powerful testament” to the role of political resolve in driving governance outcomes, noting that the results demonstrate how reforms can transform into real benefits for citizens when properly executed.
Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, emphasised that sustained investment in human capital remains central to long-term economic growth and social stability.
