Ebonyi Govt approves Education Development Trust Fund Bill to boost Basic Education

The Ebonyi State Government has approved an Executive Bill to establish the Education Development Trust Fund, aimed at strengthening basic education and ensuring sustainable financing for the sector.

The move follows a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education and is part of the state’s strategy to improve human capital development.

State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, announced the decision during a press briefing in Abakaliki over the weekend. He said the bill, which was approved at a State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Francis Nwifuru, has been forwarded to the State House of Assembly for legislative action.

Omebeh explained that the Trust Fund would serve as a dedicated financing mechanism, mobilising resources from government taxes, corporate organisations, development partners, and well-meaning individuals. Funds will be channelled into key areas such as infrastructure development, water and sanitation projects, ICT integration, teacher training, school feeding, scholarships, and transportation.

He emphasised that the initiative would ensure transparent governance, strong oversight, and effective planning, with a legally constituted board managing the Fund alongside the State Ministry of Education and other stakeholders. The focus will include rehabilitating classrooms, building fences, toilets, and boreholes, as well as enhancing security and teacher capacity.

The government described the Fund as a transformative step to address the state’s basic education challenges and create a more conducive learning environment, ensuring every child in Ebonyi State has access to quality education.