By Ayomide Otitoju
Nigeria and Italy have strengthened collaboration on the proposed Global Partnership for Education (GPE) financing campaign aimed at mobilising $5 billion to support education financing globally.
President Bola Tinubu said the GPE initiative aligns with Nigeria’s education agenda, which prioritises improved learning outcomes through expanded access and investment in teacher capacity.
Tinubu spoke on Wednesday in New York, United States, during the Multiply Possibility High-Level Event, themed, “A New Era for Education Financing,” held on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a video message, the President, according to a statement by Vice President Kashim Shettima’s media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, commended GPE stakeholders for their efforts to accelerate education financing worldwide.
Representing Tinubu at the event, Shettima said education should be regarded as an investment in Nigeria’s economic future, national productivity, prosperity and stability rather than an expenditure on the margins of the development agenda.
“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,” he said.
Shettima said the Tinubu administration had increased funding for education since assuming office in 2023 while pursuing reforms to strengthen basic education financing, expand foundational learning and improve access to tertiary and technical education.
He also said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund was being used to expand access to higher education while strengthening the link between education, skills, employment and enterprise.
According to the Vice President, the Federal Government is also exploring alternative sources of education financing beyond traditional budgetary allocations.
He said Tinubu had directed that funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), once legally cleared and free from litigation, be channelled to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Shettima added that the Federal Executive Council had approved the consideration of unclaimed dividends and dormant funds for the same purpose, subject to relevant legal requirements.
He said the measures reflected Nigeria’s commitment to mobilising responsible and lawful domestic resources to finance education.
Highlighting Nigeria’s partnerships with the World Bank and GPE through the HOPE-EDU programme, Shettima said the initiative was expected to reach about 29 million children and 500,000 teachers across the country.
“This is precisely why GPE matters. GPE does not replace national investment; it multiplies it,” he said.
“The ambition before us is to mobilise US$5 billion for GPE and, through that investment, unlock additional financing for education in partner countries.
“Domestic resources must remain the anchor, complemented by development assistance, concessional finance, philanthropy and innovative financing.”
Shettima said Nigeria’s growing population could become one of its greatest economic assets if young people had access to quality education, relevant skills and meaningful opportunities.
He said declining global aid required “smarter multilateralism” that would use limited international resources to leverage larger investments in education.
The Vice President urged participants to ensure the campaign went beyond fundraising to become “a renewed compact for human capital,” bringing together national leadership, international partnerships and responsible financing.
He also expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the Italian government and GPE for partnering on the campaign, stressing that Nigeria’s participation was intended not only to seek greater international investment in education but also to demonstrate the country’s own commitment to the sector.
In a video presentation, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni commended Tinubu’s leadership and Nigeria’s efforts to improve educational outcomes across all levels.
She called on partners in the global alliance to strengthen their commitment to reversing the decline in education financing in developing countries.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed also thanked partners for supporting efforts to improve education financing in developing countries, saying the desired changes must begin with decisions made by governments.
