Taraba, World Bank Deepen Partnership on Governance, Health and Education

The Taraba State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources as it strengthens collaboration with the World Bank to improve governance, healthcare delivery and education across the state.

The Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Sarah Enoch Adi, disclosed this in Jalingo during an advocacy, sensitisation and stakeholders’ engagement on the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE), governance, primary healthcare and education programmes supported by the World Bank.

Adi said the engagement was designed to strengthen stakeholders’ understanding of human capital development as a foundation for sustainable development, equity and prosperity, while promoting transparent, inclusive and responsive governance.

She said the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas remained committed to delivering quality services to residents and ensuring that funds provided by development partners were properly utilised for their intended purposes.

The state Focal Person for HOPE, Dr Manasseh Haruna, explained that the programme was aimed at improving the availability and effective utilisation of resources while strengthening transparency and accountability in service delivery.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Danjuma Saigudu, said the ministry coordinates World Bank and other donor-funded projects in the state, as well as overseeing budget preparation, resource allocation and government counterpart contributions.

On education, the Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr Augustina Godwin Yahya, said the state had recorded progress in teacher training and recruitment, as well as the distribution of learning materials to schools.

She added that the state government had introduced free education and taken responsibility for WAEC and NECO registration fees as part of efforts to expand access to quality education.

According to her, World Bank-supported interventions are expected to rehabilitate dilapidated schools, improve facilities, provide teaching and learning materials and construct additional classrooms between 2025 and 2029.

In the health sector, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Bordiya Buma, disclosed that more than 130 primary healthcare centres had been upgraded across the state.

She said 150 personnel had already been recruited into the primary healthcare system, while Governor Kefas had approved the recruitment of an additional 480 personnel to meet the growing demand for healthcare services.

The interventions, she noted, are part of broader efforts to strengthen primary healthcare and improve access to quality medical services, particularly in rural communities.

Representing community stakeholders, the Galadima Muri, Alhaji Lamido Abba Tukura, commended the initiative and called for sustained community participation to ensure the success and long-term sustainability of the programmes.

The engagement, held at the Grand Shield Hotel in Jalingo, brought together government officials, development partners, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening governance, healthcare and education across Taraba State.

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