In its determination to tackle the surge in out-of-school children, especially in northern Nigeria, the Federal Government on Wednesday secured a $25.35 million concessionary loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to support a major initiative aimed at reducing the challenge in Kaduna State.

The loan, which was signed on behalf of the Kaduna State Government, forms part of a broader $62.8m blended financing package with international development partners designed to expand access to quality and inclusive education in one of the country’s most affected regions.

This development is coming a few days after the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) had raised the alarm over the rise in the number of out-of-school children in the country, especially the northern region.

Last week, the 36 state governors, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission and New Globe, called for urgent steps to address gaps in foundational learning.

The NGF pointed out that a significant number of children in primary schools do not possess sufficient foundational literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills required for academic advancement and the development of more complex abilities.

NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said the governors serve as essential pillars for attaining broader educational goals, such as student retention and a smooth transition across learning stages.

The governor said, “Nigeria is faced with a crisis. We are dealing with some out-of-school children. However, enrollment in school for most children does not translate into actual learning.

“Across the states, the number of children who are in primary school have insufficient levels of foundational literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills necessary for learning success in other subjects and higher skills for learning.

“Foundational skills are not merely the end goal of an educational system; they are also critical building blocks for achieving other educational objectives, including retention and progression from one level to the next.”

He disclosed that nationwide data indicates a 66% out-of-school rate among primary school-age children in Nigeria, noting that the poor quality of education has led to high dropout rates, as well as low transition and completion levels.

The NGF Chairman added, “As critical stakeholders in the education ecosystem, we understand that there is now a focus standing on the provision of quality education, especially for foundational learning, to enhance the success of globally tested learning methodology and technology.”

As part of the challenges, the Kwara State Governor expressed concern that the education sector’s workforce is both insufficient and undervalued.

The NGF highlighted that many children in primary school lack basic literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills essential for academic progression and broader cognitive development.

The Federal Ministry of Finance, in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, said the Kuwaiti loan is expected to finance the Reaching Out-of-School Children programme, a large-scale intervention targeting vulnerable populations, including girls, children with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.

“In a significant step towards improving access to quality education in Nigeria, the Federal Government and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development have partnered to support the Reaching Out-of-School Children programme in Kaduna State.

“This partnership is built on a $25.35m concessionary loan agreement signed today between the Federal Government of Nigeria, on behalf of Kaduna State, and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.

“The facility forms part of a wider $62.8m blended package with international partners that will expand access to quality, inclusive education and improve learning outcomes for some of Nigeria’s most vulnerable children,” the statement noted.

The ministry explained further that the programme is set to enroll over 100,000 children, construct or upgrade more than 200 schools, and improve both the learning environment and the capacity of teachers in underserved areas across the state.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said the programme highlights the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes in social sector investments.

Edun, who was represented by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, noted that with millions of children still out of school, particularly in northern Nigeria, each dollar of intervention must translate into real and visible progress.

He also commended Kaduna State for its proactive leadership and strong engagement with partners, expressing confidence that the initiative could serve as a model for replication across other states.

The statement noted that Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, reaffirmed the state’s prioritisation of education, disclosing that Kaduna had already fulfilled its counterpart funding commitment of $1m.

He added that the state had increased the education sector’s share of the 2025 budget to 26 per cent, as part of a broader commitment to human capital development.

Under the framework of the new programme, 102 new climate-resilient schools will be built while 170 existing schools and learning centres will be rehabilitated, with particular emphasis on marginalised groups and hard-to-reach communities.

In his remarks, Director-General of the Kuwait Fund, Dr. Wahid Al-Bahar, described the project as an investment in hope, noting that its goals extend beyond infrastructure, adding that the fund was proud to support an initiative that aims to guarantee access to learning for every child.

The statement listed other partners in the financing structure to include the Islamic Development Bank, which is contributing a $10.5m loan; the Global Partnership for Education, which will provide a $15.45m grant; the Education Above All Foundation, with a $10m grant; and Save the Children International, which is providing $0.5m in technical assistance. Kaduna State’s contribution stands at $1m, while the federal government will oversee the programme’s processes and coordinate results reporting in collaboration with the Kaduna state and partner organisations.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education has commended the Yobe State Government for its giant stride in reforming education, leading to outstanding growth in basic education delivery.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in a congratulatory message he personally signed, addressed to the state governor, Mai Mala Buni, expressed the federal government’s appreciation for the state’s commitment to advancing the basic education sector.

The Minister “thumbed up” the Yobe State government’s dedication to ensuring that children acquire the knowledge and skills essential for their success, even as he noted that the state has fully accessed its 2024 Universal Basic Education matching grant.

This commendation followed the remarkable feat by three girls from Yobe State – Nafisa Abdullah, Rukayya Muhammad Fema, and Khadija Kashim, who emerged world champions at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London, United Kingdom, competing against 20,000 participants from 69 countries.