Nigeria and Italy have strengthened collaboration on a proposed $5 billion Global Partnership for Education (GPE) financing campaign aimed at expanding education funding worldwide.
President Bola Tinubu said the GPE initiative aligns with Nigeria’s education agenda, particularly its focus on improving learning outcomes through increased access to education and stronger investment in teacher capacity.
Tinubu spoke in a video message on Wednesday at the Multiply Possibility High-Level Event, “A New Era for Education Financing,” held in New York on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Representing the President at the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima said Nigeria views education as a strategic investment in its economic future, national productivity and the prosperity of its citizens.
He said the Tinubu administration had increased resources for education since 2023 while pursuing reforms aimed at strengthening basic education financing, improving foundational learning and expanding access to tertiary and technical education.
Shettima also highlighted the role of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund in widening access to higher education and strengthening the connection between education, skills, employment and enterprise.
According to the Vice President, Nigeria is exploring additional lawful sources of funding for education beyond traditional budgetary allocations. He said President Tinubu had directed that funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, once legally cleared and free from litigation, be channelled to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
He added that the Federal Executive Council had also approved consideration of unclaimed dividends and dormant funds for the same purpose, subject to applicable legal requirements.
Shettima said Nigeria’s partnership with the World Bank and GPE through HOPE-EDU demonstrates the impact of international cooperation, noting that the programme is expected to reach about 29 million children and 500,000 teachers across the country.
He said the proposed $5 billion GPE campaign would help unlock additional financing for education in partner countries, while stressing that domestic resources must remain the foundation of education financing.
The Vice President also called for smarter multilateral cooperation in response to declining global development assistance, arguing that limited international resources should be used to leverage larger investments in education.
Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, praised Nigeria’s efforts to improve educational outcomes and called for stronger commitment from partners in reversing declining education support in developing countries.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed also urged governments and international financial institutions to prioritise education and create the fiscal space needed to improve learning outcomes, particularly through better training and support for teachers.
GPE Board Chair Akaya Kikwete said the campaign was driven by the widening education financing gap and declining development assistance, stressing the importance of education to human rights, security and peace.
Education activist Malala Yousafzai called for greater investment in gender equality in education, particularly programmes addressing the needs of girls in developing countries.
At the event, governments and donors pledged contributions towards the education of at least 370 million children globally, with Italy committing €50 million to GPE programmes and interventions.
