The Federal Government has obtained a $25.35 million concessionary loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to address the high number of out-of-school children in Kaduna State.
This facility, obtained on behalf of the Kaduna State Government, is part of a wider $62.8 million blended financing package involving several international development partners.
The funds will be channelled into the Reaching Out-of-School Children programme, aimed at expanding access to quality and inclusive education for vulnerable groups, including girls, children with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.
A statement from the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, described the initiative as “a significant step towards improving access to quality education in Nigeria.”
It explained that the programme would enrol more than 100,000 children, build or renovate over 200 schools, and strengthen teacher capacity in underserved communities.
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The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, represented by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the project reflects the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and measurable results in social investments.
He emphasised that with millions of children still out of school, “each dollar of intervention must translate into real and visible progress.”
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education, revealing that the state had already met its $1 million counterpart funding obligation. He added that education now takes up 26 per cent of the state’s 2025 budget, underlining the focus on human capital development.
The project will see the construction of 102 new climate-resilient schools and the rehabilitation of 170 existing ones, targeting marginalised and hard-to-reach communities.
Director-General of the Kuwait Fund, Dr Wahid Al-Bahar, described the initiative as “an investment in hope” and stressed that its success would be measured by increased enrolment, improved learning outcomes, and stronger community involvement.
Other contributors to the financing package include the Islamic Development Bank ($10.5 million loan), the Global Partnership for Education ($15.45 million grant), the Education Above All Foundation ($10 million grant), and Save the Children International ($0.5 million technical support). Kaduna State will contribute $1 million.
The Federal Ministry of Finance will manage the programme’s fiduciary processes and coordinate monitoring with the state and partners to track enrolment growth, teacher training progress, and learning performance to ensure lasting impact.
