By George Omagbemi
Nigeria and Italy are joining forces in an ambitious international drive to mobilise $5 billion for education financing worldwide, with the campaign targeting hundreds of millions of children across developing countries.
The partnership was highlighted during the high-level “Multiply Possibility: A New Era for Education Financing” event held in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
President Bola Tinubu, in a video message, said the initiative fits into Nigeria’s broader efforts to expand access to quality education and strengthen investment in teachers and learning.
Representing the President, Vice President Kashim Shettima described education as more than a social service, arguing that investment in learning is directly connected to economic productivity, national development and stability.
The unusual part of the campaign is its scale: the $5 billion is not simply a fund for one country but a global mobilisation target designed to unlock additional financing for education across GPE partner countries. The Global Partnership for Education estimates that its financing campaign could help mobilise billions more in co-financing.
Italy has committed €50 million to GPE programmes, while commitments announced around the campaign are expected to support education for hundreds of millions of children globally.
For Nigeria, the initiative also connects with the HOPE-EDU programme, which is expected to reach about 29 million children and 500,000 teachers.
The campaign therefore places Nigeria not only among countries seeking education financing but also within a broader international effort to rethink how education is funded.
With the global target set at $5 billion, the emerging question is whether governments and development partners can convert the financial pledges into classrooms, trained teachers, learning materials and measurable improvements in the lives of children.
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