Nigeria and Italy have strengthened collaboration on a campaign to mobilise $5bn for education financing worldwide through the Global Partnership for Education. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday. The collaboration was highlighted at the “Multiply Possibility: A New Era for Education Financing” high-level event held in New York, United States, on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
President Bola Tinubu, in a video message to the event, noted that the GPE vision aligned with his administration’s agenda of improving educational outcomes by investing in access and capacity building for teachers. The President also commended stakeholders in the GPE for their efforts towards accelerating education financing globally. Representing the President at the gathering, Vice President Kashim Shettima said education was an investment in Nigeria’s economic future, productivity, prosperity and stability.
Shettima said Nigeria was looking beyond traditional budgetary allocations, noting that Tinubu had directed that liquid funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, once legally cleared and free from litigation, be channelled to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. The VP said the Federal Executive Council had also recently approved the consideration of unclaimed dividends and dormant funds for the same purpose, subject to relevant legal requirements.
Shettima cited Nigeria’s partnership with the World Bank and GPE through HOPE-EDU, saying, “The programme is expected to reach approximately 29 million children and 500,000 teachers across Nigeria.” He added: “This is precisely why GPE matters. GPE does not replace national investment; it multiplies it. The ambition before us is to mobilise US$5 billion for GPE and, through that investment, unlock additional financing for education in partner countries.
Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, praised Tinubu’s leadership and Nigeria’s determination to improve educational outcomes across all levels. She urged partners in the global alliance to show greater commitment to reversing the trend in developing countries. The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, thanked partners for their interest in improving education financing in developing countries.
The Chair of the Board of Directors of GPE, Jakaya Kikwete, underscored the need to accelerate education financing, noting that education remained central to human rights, security and peace. Girls’ education activist, Malala Yousafzai, also called for greater collaboration in ideas and resources, urging governments and multilateral organisations to commit more resources towards gender equality in education.
Governments and donors at the event made contributions towards the education of at least 370 million children globally, while the Italian government pledged €50m for GPE programmes and interventions. The collaboration between Nigeria and Italy on the GPE campaign demonstrates a renewed commitment to improving education financing and outcomes globally.
Key points
- Nigeria and Italy have collaborated on a $5bn global education financing campaign through the Global Partnership for Education.
- The campaign aims to improve educational outcomes by investing in access and capacity building for teachers.
- The Italian government has pledged €50m for GPE programmes and interventions.
