Nigeria, Italy Partner on $5bln Education Drive to Curb Youth Unemployment, Migration

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

Nigeria and Italy have opened talks on a $5 billion global education initiative, aimed at expanding learning opportunities, curb youth unemployment, and address the driving forces behind youth migration.

The initiative, branded the “Multiply Possibility Campaign,” is expected to impact about 750 million children globally and stimulate an additional 10 billion dollars in local education financing by 2030.

The campaign will culminate at the 2026 Global Education Summit in Rome, co-chaired by Nigeria and Italy under the Global Partnership for Education.

Details of the talks are contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, obtained by
PersecondNews.

This followed a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Roberto Mengoni, in Abuja on Thursday.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria viewed education as a strategic tool for economic growth and social stability, especially for its growing youth population.

“The summit has become imperative because of Nigeria’s high demographics of young people,” she said.

She explained that the partnership with Italy would support skills development and job creation while helping both countries manage migration issues through dialogue and investment-driven solutions.

“We are interested in what we can do to keep our youth within our shores in productive ways,” the minister stated.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also disclosed that Nigeria was exploring green investment opportunities targeted at vulnerable communities as part of efforts to create sustainable livelihoods for young people.

She added that both countries had agreed to establish a Working Group to coordinate plans for the summit and advance the financing campaign.

According to the minister, improving access to education aligns with the priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in strengthening human capital development.

Earlier, Mengoni said the meeting was necessary to align preparations for the September 2026 summit and deepen cooperation between Nigeria and Italy.

The discussions also covered tourism, economic relations and defence cooperation between both countries.