24,000 Nigerians to Benefit from $65M World Bank Fund

The Federal Government of Nigeria announced that 24,000 Nigerians will benefit from a new $65 million funding from the World Bank, aimed at enhancing procurement and social standards through the SPESS project. Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), disclosed this during the contract signing in Abuja.

This new funding phase builds on the success of the initial $80 million SPESS project that became effective in 2021, designed to strengthen Nigeria's capacity in procurement and environmental management across public and private institutions. The project addresses critical skill shortages in governance and supports the establishment of six centers of excellence across Nigeria's geopolitical zones.

The NUC aims to enroll at least 60 PhD graduates and 60 foreign students in the new phase, with plans for internship and student exchange programs. The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) will train 2,700 public and private sector officials to enhance procurement competence nationwide.