Nigeria’s Social Sector Gains Global Recognition as Bagudu Hails World Bank’s Transformative Programme.
By Raymond Enoch
In a remarkable testament to international collaboration and development success, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has commended the World Bank’s Programme-for-Results (PforR) for revolutionizing service delivery across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.
Speaking today in Abuja during a high-level courtesy visit from Senegal’s Ministry of Health and Social Action, Bagudu underscored the instrumental role of the PforR framework—introduced by the World Bank in 2015—in driving accountability, transparency, and sustainable programme outcomes nationwide.
H.E Minister Bagudu emphasized that Nigeria has recorded notable success through its participation in multiple PforR initiatives, particularly in the sectors of health, governance, and economic empowerment. He stated that the results-based approach had significantly influenced funding decisions by both the National Assembly and state governments, leading to increased allocations to vital sectors.
> “The PforR model has proven that we can achieve real, tangible impact when resources are tied directly to performance and results,” Bagudu noted. “It has encouraged both the National Assembly and state governments to commit more funds to critical areas like health, education, and economic development.”
He further highlighted one of the most significant outcomes of the PforR model: enhanced collaboration between Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). According to the Minister, the unified focus on achieving result-oriented objectives has improved inter-agency coordination and overall service delivery.
The visiting delegation from Senegal, led by Dr. Abibou Ndiaye, Technical Advisor to the Senegalese Ministry of Health, expressed keen interest in learning from Nigeria’s extensive experience with the PforR framework. Their visit, part of a strategic study tour, aims to draw insights from Nigeria’s implementation successes, challenges, and innovations.
> “Nigeria’s progress is inspiring. We are here not just to learn from your successes but also from your challenges. The lessons shared today will be invaluable in shaping our own PforR journey,” said Dr. Ndiaye.
As part of the engagement, relevant project coordinators from Nigeria’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning presented detailed overviews of key PforR programmes including Saving One Million Lives (SOML), Nigerian Community Action for Resilience (NG-CARES), and the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equality (HOPE) initiative—each addressing core pillars such as education, health, and governance.
The Senegalese delegation’s visit signals growing international recognition of Nigeria’s innovative use of performance-based financing to tackle socio-economic challenges and improve citizen wellbeing.
With Nigeria emerging as a regional leader in results-based development programming, Bagudu reaffirmed the country’s commitment to transparency and strategic spending. He concluded that the continued partnership with global institutions like the World Bank would remain vital to sustaining gains made in public service delivery.
This diplomatic and technical exchange marks a significant step forward in South-South cooperation, as African nations look to each other for tested solutions to shared development challenges.
