By Omoyeni Ojeifo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening global education financing, as the country backs a $5 billion campaign targeting more than 100 low-income and lower-middle-income countries between 2026 and 2030.
Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, made the disclosure in New York after the “Multiply Possibility: A New Era for Education Financing” high-level event held on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The campaign seeks to finance access to quality education, stronger education systems, foundational learning and improved educational outcomes in participating countries.
According to Alausa, Nigeria’s participation goes beyond receiving financial support, with
the country using its co-hosting role to demonstrate its commitment to advancing education globally.
“This is a great day for education, and also a great day for our country, Nigeria,” the Minister declared, adding that the role demonstrated Nigeria’s willingness to support education beyond its borders.
He recalled that the previous GPE replenishment cycle impacted almost 750 million children globally, underscoring the importance of sustained international investment in education.
Alausa explained that Nigeria was positioning itself to contribute to education efforts across more than 100 countries, while identifying teachers as central to sustainable education reform.
“Teachers are the ones that matter most as we build our education agenda in Nigeria,” the Minister noted in a statement emailed to PerSecondNews on Thursday by Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser on Media and Communications.
The Minister described Nigeria’s participation as evidence that the country, under Tinubu’s leadership, was back on the centre stage of global education leadership.
“The engagement is not simply about what Nigeria could receive from GPE,” he declared.
Alausa disclosed that GPE Board Chair and former President of Tanzania, Dr Jakaya Kikwete, approached President Tinubu in January 2025 to seek Nigeria’s support to co-host the replenishment campaign with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“President Tinubu accepted the invitation and committed his personal time and political support to the initiative, reflecting the priority attached to education and human-capital development,” he noted.
He welcomed the participation of governments and development partners from Europe, North America, the Gulf region, Australia and other parts of the world, noting that several partners had announced commitments higher than those made during the previous replenishment cycle.
Alausa commended Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her partnership and Vice President Kashim Shettima for his consistent support for Tinubu, education and the Federal Government’s transformation agenda.
He also recalled Shettima’s participation in preparations for the replenishment campaign during the previous United Nations General Assembly.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to education under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Alausa affirmed that Nigeria would continue to prioritise teachers, learners, access to quality education and improved learning outcomes.
He added that Nigeria would deepen partnerships aimed at strengthening education systems and expanding opportunities for children in Nigeria and beyond.
In a video message, President Tinubu commended GPE and its partners for advancing the global education financing agenda, highlighting the importance of expanding access to quality education and strengthening teacher capacity.
Representing the President at the event, Vice President Shettima described education as an investment in Nigeria’s economic future, productivity, prosperity and stability.
He highlighted Federal Government reforms aimed at strengthening education financing, expanding foundational learning and improving access to tertiary and technical education, while emphasising the importance of domestic resources alongside international support.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni commended President Tinubu’s leadership and Nigeria’s commitment to improving educational outcomes, while calling for stronger international support and sustained investment in education in developing countries.
UN Deputy Secretary-General, Dr Amina Mohammed, called for greater support from international financial institutions to help countries create the fiscal space needed to invest in education, including teacher training and capacity building.
Also, GPE Board Chair Kikwete stressed the urgency of accelerating education financing amid declining development assistance and a widening financing gap, calling for sustainable financing systems capable of delivering measurable education outcomes.
Education activist Malala Yousafzai called for stronger collaboration and increased investment in education, particularly in advancing gender equality and meeting the educational needs of girls in developing countries.
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