Anambra 2026 Budget Prioritises Health and Education to Drive Human Capital Development

 Anambra 2026 Budget Prioritises Health and Education to Drive Human Capital Development

Anambra State’s 2026 “Changing Gears 3.0” budget has placed unprecedented emphasis on human capital development, with the Health and Education sectors receiving two of the most strategic boosts in funding. According to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, the renewed investments reflect the administration’s commitment to building a healthier, smarter, and globally competitive state.

Health Sector: Strengthening Systems, Saving Lives

The Health Sector received a 13% year-on-year increase, a figure Aburime said is often misunderstood as modest. He clarified that after four years of massive capital investment—including four new general hospitals, ongoing renovation of 326 primary health centres (PHCs), a new Trauma Centre, and free antenatal care for over 161,000 women—the 2026 allocation is strategically focused on operational excellence.

According to him, the budget will complete, equip, and fully activate the health infrastructure already built, while adding two transformative projects:

1. Anambra State College of Nursing Sciences (new campus):
   Set to take in its first students in the 2026/2027 academic session, ending decades of reliance on other states for nursing education.

2. A new Specialist Teaching Hospital with Oncology focus:
   A first-of-its-kind tertiary medical facility in the state, dedicated to cancer care, cardiology, and advanced diagnostics. This is expected to significantly reduce medical tourism to India, Egypt, and other destinations.

By the end of 2026, all 326 PHCs will be fully renovated and equipped with solar power, boreholes, drug revolving funds, staff quarters, and diagnostic tools—ensuring every community has a functional 24-hour health facility within a 5–10 km radius.

Maternal and child health will also witness expansion. Beyond free antenatal and delivery services—already recording zero maternal mortality in documented cases—the state will extend free treatment to common childhood illnesses and selected chronic diseases among low-income households.

The four newly completed general hospitals will receive specialist staffing and equipment, while emergency response will improve with expanded ambulance fleets, telemedicine hubs, and a strengthened referral system linked to the new Trauma Centre.

Aburime noted that these investments position Anambra to achieve near-zero preventable maternal and under-5 mortality and become a medical tourism hub for the South-East. Treating cancer patients locally will save families between ₦15–40 million per case, helping reduce financial hardship and boosting productivity.

Education Sector: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

With a 46.9% budget increase—the largest of any sector—education remains the crown jewel of Soludo’s 2026 development plan. Aburime described the surge as a “war on mediocrity” and a bold investment in the minds of children and youth.

Key priorities include:

• Construction of modern public primary schools in 30 communities that have never had one.
• Aggressive upgrades of existing schools, including new classrooms, laboratories, libraries, ICT centres, and perimeter fences.
• Possible establishment of two new specialised tertiary institutions, likely focusing on Engineering/Technology and Medical Sciences.
• Sustenance of free education from kindergarten to SS3, with an expanded bursary scheme for university and polytechnic students.
• Stronger partnerships with mission schools, supported by a high-level committee.
• Digital education expansion through more smart schools, devices, broadband access, and teacher retraining.
• Improved teacher welfare, including regular promotions, training, and timely salary payments.

As a result of these reforms, the state expects:

• A permanent closure of the out-of-school-children gap—the lowest nationally.
• Continued surge in public school enrolment (already up 47% in secondary schools and 27% in primary schools since 2022).
• Reduced crime rates, as education acts as a “powerful anti-crime vaccine.”
• Production of globally competitive graduates capable of creating future tech giants like Flutterwave and Andela.

Aburime said the massive investment will entrench Anambra’s dominance in WAEC, JAMB, and global Olympiads, while attracting international research grants and academic partnerships.

A Unified Vision for a Healthy, Educated, and Prosperous Anambra

The Soludo administration’s dual focus on health and education is intended to create a robust, integrated public service ecosystem—from village-level PHCs to world-class teaching hospitals, and from rural primary schools to specialist universities.

By 2026, Anambra is projected to operate one of the most modern, equitable, and efficient public health and education systems in sub-Saharan Africa.

Aburime concluded that these investments lay the foundation for the African Dubai–Taiwan–Silicon Valley model envisioned by Governor Soludo, with health and education serving as the bedrock of long-term prosperity.