The Federal Government has secured a $25.35 million concessionary loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development as part of a $62.8 million financing package aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children in Kaduna State.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, the initiative will be implemented under the Reaching Out-of-School Children programme, which targets vulnerable groups including girls, children with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.
The programme is designed to enrol more than 100,000 children, construct 102 new climate-resilient schools, rehabilitate 170 existing facilities, and enhance teacher training and learning environments across underserved communities.
Other contributors to the blended financing package include the Islamic Development Bank with a $10.5 million loan, the Global Partnership for Education with a $15.45 million grant, the Education Above All Foundation with a $10 million grant, and Save the Children International with $0.5 million in technical assistance. Kaduna State has committed $1 million in counterpart funding.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, represented by Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the partnership underscores the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes in social sector investments.
He added that each dollar of intervention must translate into visible progress given the scale of education challenges in northern Nigeria.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, confirmed that the state had already met its funding commitment. He said education’s share of the 2025 state budget had been increased to 26 percent to accelerate human capital development.
Dr Wahid Al-Bahar, Director-General of the Kuwait Fund, described the initiative as an investment in hope, stressing that the project’s success would be measured not only by the number of schools built but also by improved enrolment, better learning outcomes, and strong community participation.
The Federal Ministry of Finance will oversee fiduciary processes and coordinate reporting in collaboration with Kaduna State and other partner organisations.
Regular joint assessments will be conducted to track enrolment rates, teacher training progress, and academic performance indicators to ensure sustainable impact.
The Bank of Ghana’s monetary policy committee is scheduled to meet on September 17 to deliver its next decision, with analysts expecting the strong disinflation trend to influence further easing measures.
