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$62.8m Global Education Drive to Build 272 Schools, Target Vulnerable Kids Across Kaduna State
In a decisive move to reduce Nigeria’s out-of-school population, the Federal Government has secured a $25.35 million concessionary loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. The funding, obtained on behalf of the Kaduna State Government, will support a large-scale intervention aimed at enrolling over 100,000 out-of-school children in the state—particularly girls, children with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.
This facility is part of a wider $62.8 million blended financing package from international development partners to expand access to inclusive and quality education in Kaduna, one of Nigeria’s most affected states by the out-of-school crisis.
According to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance's Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, the funds will be deployed under the Reaching Out-of-School Children programme. The initiative includes the construction of 102 new climate-resilient schools and the rehabilitation of 170 existing learning centres, with a strong emphasis on marginalised and remote communities.
The Federal Ministry of Finance will oversee the programme’s fiduciary responsibilities and coordinate transparent reporting and evaluations. Routine assessments will monitor enrolment levels, teacher training, and student performance to ensure the programme delivers sustainable and measurable impact.
Speaking at the loan signing ceremony, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, represented by Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, stressed the government’s dedication to accountability and results-driven investments in the social sector. “With millions of children still out of school, especially in northern Nigeria, every dollar must yield real, visible change,” he stated.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, confirmed that the state had fulfilled its $1 million counterpart funding requirement and allocated 26% of its 2025 budget to education, a clear signal of Kaduna’s commitment to human capital development.
Other contributors to the financing include the Islamic Development Bank ($10.5m loan), the Global Partnership for Education ($15.45m grant), the Education Above All Foundation ($10m grant), and Save the Children International ($0.5m in technical assistance).
Director-General of the Kuwait Fund, Dr Wahid Al-Bahar, described the programme as “an investment in hope,” noting that success would be defined not just by infrastructure, but by meaningful improvements in enrolment, learning outcomes, and community involvement.
The Federal Government expressed confidence that the Kaduna education model could be replicated in other states to address Nigeria’s broader out-of-school crisis.
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