At UNGA 81, Nigeria Teams Up with Italy for Massive $5bn Global Education Funding

Nigeria and Italy have bolstered their partnership to implement a Global Partnership for Education (GPE) financing campaign, aiming to raise $5 billion for global education financing. President Bola Tinubu affirmed that GPE aligns with Nigeria’s agenda to enhance educational outcomes through access and capacity building for teachers. During the "A New Era for Education Financing" event, held on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly, Tinubu commended GPE for accelerating education financing worldwide.

Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized that education is an investment in Nigeria’s economic future, productivity, and the welfare of its citizens. Under Tinubu’s administration, resources for education have significantly increased, with a focus on expanding basic education, improving foundational learning, and boosting tertiary and technical education.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which widens access to higher education, is set to receive liquid funds from recovered proceeds of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, once cleared of litigation.

To fulfill the president’s directive, the Federal Executive Council approved the consideration of unclaimed dividends and dormant funds for the same purpose. This step highlights Nigeria’s commitment to mobilising every lawful domestic source for education financing. Shettima highlighted that Nigeria is partnering with the World Bank and GPE through HOPE-EDU, which is expected to benefit around 29 million children and 500,000 teachers across the country.

Shettima stressed that while Nigeria’s growing population could be a significant economic asset, it requires access to quality education, relevant skills, and meaningful opportunities. He called for smarter multilateralism, leveraging international resources to raise larger investments. Shettima urged participants not to treat the event as merely a fundraising exercise but as a renewed commitment to human capital, national leadership, international partnership, and responsible financing to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and contribute to their country’s future.

Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, praised President Tinubu’s leadership and Nigeria’s determination to improve educational outcomes. She urged all partners to demonstrate greater commitment to reversing the decline in development assistance for education in developing countries. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed thanked all partners for their interest in improving education financing in developing nations and called on International Finance Institutions to support committed countries in finding fiscal spaces needed to enhance educational outcomes, including teacher capacity building.