The Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, CON, has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme, pledging continued collaboration with the World Bank to drive sustainable educational development across the state.
The Executive Governor gave the assurance when he received a BESDA World Bank delegation led by Senior Economist and Team Lead for Education Programs in Nigeria, Mr. Shin Nomura, at the Government House, Yola, on Tuesday evening.
Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri stated that his administration is working tirelessly to ensure the programme’s effective implementation, with strict adherence to transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness so that every benefit reaches the intended beneficiaries.
While appreciating the World Bank’s sustained partnership, the Executive Governor appealed for a fairer allocation of funding to Adamawa State, noting that years of insecurity had destroyed many schools and critical infrastructure, setting back the state’s educational progress.
He expressed satisfaction that the visiting World Bank team recorded no negative findings during its field assessments and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to building modern schools, supporting teachers with learning tools, and fast-tracking delayed education projects for the benefit of children across the state.
Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri also urged the World Bank to expedite approvals and disbursements to ensure that ongoing education projects are completed within schedule and deliver lasting impact.
Speaking during the visit, Mr. Shin Nomura explained that the mission’s objective was to review progress under the BESDA-Additional Financing (BESDA-AF) and the Transforming Education Systems at State Level (TESTA) programmes, strengthen implementation processes, and ensure the completion of ongoing activities before the October 2026 deadline.
Nomura, who was on his first official visit to Adamawa, commended the state for its strong performance in school construction, teacher training, and community engagement, describing Adamawa as a model of effective state-level coordination.
He emphasized that the World Bank’s support aligns with its broader goal of advancing human capital development—an essential pillar for economic growth, peace, and social stability.
Nomura further revealed that the World Bank is introducing a new initiative, the HOPE Education Program, which will build on lessons learned from BESDA to further expand access to quality education and reduce the number of out-of-school children.