Nigeria and Italy have deepened their collaboration on a proposed Global Partnership for Education (GPE) financing campaign aimed at mobilising $5 billion to support education funding worldwide.
The partnership was highlighted at the high-level event, “A New Era for Education Financing,” held on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
President Bola Tinubu, in a video message delivered at the event, said the GPE initiative aligns with Nigeria’s education reform agenda, which focuses on expanding access to learning opportunities and strengthening teachers’ capacity across the country.
The President commended stakeholders of the Global Partnership for Education for their efforts in advancing global education financing and improving learning outcomes in developing countries.
Representing the President, Vice President Kashim Shettima described education as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future rather than an expenditure.
“For Nigeria, education is not an expenditure at the margins of our development agenda. It is an investment in our economic future, national productivity, and the prosperity and stability of our people,” Shettima said.
He noted that since the Tinubu administration took office in 2023, government spending on education has increased significantly, accompanied by reforms aimed at strengthening basic education funding, expanding foundational learning and improving access to tertiary and technical education.
The Vice President highlighted the role of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in widening access to higher education and linking education with skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.
Shettima disclosed that President Tinubu had directed that recovered funds cleared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as eligible unclaimed dividends and dormant accounts approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), be channelled toward education financing through NELFUND.
According to him, the move demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to mobilising all lawful domestic resources to support education.
He also referenced Nigeria’s partnership with the World Bank and GPE under the HOPE-EDU programme, which is expected to benefit about 29 million children and 500,000 teachers nationwide.
Shettima stressed that domestic resources should remain the foundation of education financing while being complemented by international assistance, concessional funding, philanthropy and innovative financing mechanisms.
He urged global leaders to view the campaign as more than a fundraising effort, describing it as a renewed commitment to human capital development and ensuring that every child has access to quality education.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in a recorded message, praised President Tinubu’s leadership and Nigeria’s determination to improve educational outcomes.
Other speakers at the event, including UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, GPE Board Chair Jakaya Kikwete and education activist Malala Yousafzai, called for stronger international partnerships and increased financing to address widening education gaps globally.
Governments and donor organisations pledged support for the education of at least 370 million children worldwide, with Italy committing €50 million to GPE programmes and interventions.
