The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured a $25.35 million concessionary loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to help address the growing number of out-of-school children in Kaduna State. This funding is part of a broader $62.8 million blended finance package involving international development partners. It is aimed at expanding access to quality and inclusive education in one of Nigeria’s most affected regions.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by Mohammed Manga, the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, the funds will support the “Reaching Out-of-School Children” programme, an ambitious education intervention designed to reach vulnerable children, including girls, children with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.
The programme aims to enroll over 100,000 out-of-school children, construct 102 climate-resilient schools, and rehabilitate 170 existing schools and learning centers across underserved communities. In addition to infrastructure, the project will also focus on improving the learning environment and strengthening teacher training and support systems.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, represented at the signing by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, described the initiative as a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes in the education sector. He emphasized that every dollar of investment must result in visible improvements, especially in northern Nigeria, where education challenges remain critical.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, who was also represented at the event, reaffirmed the state’s prioritization of education and disclosed that Kaduna had already fulfilled its $1 million counterpart funding obligation. He also noted that the education sector’s share of the 2025 state budget had been raised to 26%, underlining the administration’s broader push for human capital development.
The Director-General of the Kuwait Fund, Dr. Wahid Al-Bahar, hailed the project as an investment in hope. He noted that the fund was proud to support an initiative that goes beyond building schools to ensuring inclusive, quality education for every child. According to him, the success of the programme would be measured by improved enrollment figures, stronger learning outcomes, and active community participation.
In addition to the Kuwait Fund’s $25.35 million loan, the financing structure includes a $10.5 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank, a $15.45 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education, a $10 million grant from the Education Above All Foundation, and $0.5 million in technical assistance from Save the Children International. Kaduna State’s contribution stands at $1 million.
The Federal Ministry of Finance will oversee the fiduciary processes and results tracking for the program, in partnership with Kaduna State and the supporting development organizations. This includes regular joint assessments to track school enrollment, teacher training efforts, and student learning performance, ensuring that the programme delivers long-term, measurable impact.
This initiative is expected to serve as a model for replication across other Nigerian states facing similar challenges, particularly in the northern region, where the out-of-school population remains among the highest in the world.
