Anambra State has emerged as the highest spender on education in the South-East for the 2026 fiscal year, allocating 46.9 per cent of its total budget to the sector — the largest share in the region.
Data sourced from state budget documents and compiled by Statisense show that Anambra earmarked ₦359 billion for education, representing nearly half of its total expenditure plan for 2026.
A comparative analysis of the approved budgets of the five South-East states indicates that although Enugu State allocated a higher nominal sum of ₦521 billion to education, the figure accounts for 32.7 per cent of its overall budget, placing it behind Anambra in percentage terms.
Similarly, Abia State set aside ₦203.2 billion for education, representing 20.0 per cent of its total budget, while Ebonyi State allocated ₦70.14 billion, amounting to 19.84 per cent.
In contrast, Imo State earmarked ₦60.62 billion for education, which constitutes just 4.21 per cent of its 2026 budget — the lowest proportion among the five states.
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The figures highlight Anambra’s strong prioritisation of education relative to its peers, with its allocation significantly above the 19 to 33 per cent range recorded by most other South-East states.
Observers say the development positions Anambra as the regional leader in education funding for 2026, based on the proportion of total budget devoted to the sector, signalling a deliberate policy focus on human capital development.
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