Nigeria and Italy have strengthened their partnership to support a $5 billion Global Partnership for Education (GPE) campaign aimed at improving education financing across the world.
The commitment was announced during a high-level education event held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York.
President Bola Tinubu, in a video message, said the GPE vision aligns with Nigeria’s education reforms focused on expanding access to quality learning and improving teachers’ capacity.
Representing the President, Vice President Kashim Shettima said education is an investment in Nigeria’s economic future and not a burden on government spending.
He said the Tinubu administration has increased funding for education, strengthened basic education financing and expanded access to higher education through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Shettima disclosed that recovered EFCC funds, once legally cleared, and eligible unclaimed dividends and dormant accounts would support education financing in line with the President’s directive.
He added that Nigeria’s partnership with the World Bank and GPE through the HOPE-EDU programme is expected to benefit about 29 million children and 500,000 teachers.
The Vice President said the proposed $5 billion GPE campaign would complement domestic investments and unlock more education funding for partner countries.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, GPE Board Chair Jakaya Kikwete and education activist Malala Yousafzai all called for stronger global investment in education.
The meeting ended with governments and donors making fresh commitments to support the education of at least 370 million children worldwide, while Italy pledged €50 million to GPE programmes.
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