The Ebonyi State Government has approved an Executive Bill to establish the Education Development Trust Fund, in line with a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Fund aims to create a sustainable financial framework to support basic education, regarded as the foundation for the state’s human capital development.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, announced the decision in Abakaliki while briefing journalists on the outcome of last Thursday’s Executive Council meeting, chaired by Governor Francis Nwifuru.
He confirmed that the Executive Bill has been forwarded to the State House of Assembly for legislative consideration. Once operational, the Fund will mobilise both public and private resources to strengthen the state’s basic education system.
“The Education Development Trust Fund will receive contributions from diverse sources, including government taxes, development partners, corporate bodies, and well-meaning indigenes,” Omebeh explained. “These funds will support priority areas such as infrastructure, WASH facilities, ICT integration, teacher training, scholarships, school feeding, and transport.”
He added that the initiative would provide a credible and transparent mechanism to address the state’s educational challenges through joint planning, strong oversight, and accountable governance.
A legally constituted Board, working with the State Ministry of Education and key stakeholders, will manage the Fund. It will focus on rehabilitating classrooms, constructing fences, toilets and boreholes, strengthening school security, and training teachers.
According to the Commissioner, the Fund represents a transformative step towards resolving structural problems in basic education, ensuring a brighter and more sustainable future for children in Ebonyi State.