The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and improved service delivery, as it showcased major achievements under the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Programme.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known during a public sensitisation and presentation of the state’s progress under the World Bank-supported initiative held at Lagos House, Marina.
The HOPE Programme, a 500-million-dollar intervention backed by the World Bank and the Federal Government, is designed to address systemic challenges in basic education, primary healthcare, and governance across Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the programme as a people-centred reform framework aimed at ensuring that public investments translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
According to him, the initiative goes beyond policy formulation to delivering measurable outcomes in critical sectors.
“For us in Lagos, this programme is about people, ensuring that a child has access to the right learning materials, that a mother receives quality care at a primary health centre, and that public resources are managed transparently for all to see,” he said.
The Governor noted that Lagos has leveraged the HOPE framework to strengthen its capital management systems, shifting from input-based spending to performance-driven outcomes.
He disclosed that the state has consistently recorded budget performance rates above 75 per cent, while internally generated revenue now averages over ₦800 billion annually.
Sanwo-Olu also highlighted reforms in public financial management, including citizen-friendly budget publications and digital platforms that allow residents to track government spending in real time.
On healthcare, he said Lagos now boasts over 330 functional primary healthcare centres, many of which have been upgraded to deliver efficient, community-based services.
He added that initiatives such as free healthcare services and the distribution of maternal kits have improved access to care, while the Ilera Eko Health Insurance Scheme has expanded coverage to over one million residents.
In the education sector, the Governor revealed that more than 1,000 classrooms have been constructed or rehabilitated, alongside the recruitment of thousands of teachers and the deployment of digital learning tools.
He noted that programmes such as EKOEXCEL are leveraging technology to improve learning outcomes in public primary schools.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Ope George, said the governance component of the programme, HOPE-GOV, has strengthened fiscal transparency, accountability, and public financial management systems.
The Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, highlighted progress in primary healthcare delivery, noting increased investments in infrastructure, workforce, and service accessibility.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Tolani Alli-Balogun, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to inclusive and quality education through teacher development and system reforms.
A development partner, Celine Lafoucriere of UNICEF, commended Lagos for its implementation of the programme, describing it as a benchmark for other states due to its strong political will and governance reforms.
The event also featured the unveiling of core textbooks and distribution of school bags to students, underscoring the administration’s focus on practical interventions.
Governor Sanwo-Olu urged residents to take advantage of the opportunities provided under the programme, stressing that active citizen engagement is key to sustaining good governance.
He assured that the state would continue to strengthen institutional frameworks to ensure that reforms are sustainable and impactful.
“Behind every statistic is a real story, a child learning in a better classroom, a mother receiving care, and a citizen who can now see how public resources are being used,” he added.