The Federal Government has secured a $25.35 million loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Kaduna State.
The loan, signed on behalf of the Kaduna State Government, is part of a larger $62.8 million blended financing package supported by international partners aimed at expanding access to quality and inclusive education, particularly in vulnerable and underserved communities.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Mohammed Manga, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, the funds will finance the Reaching Out-of-School Children programme, an ambitious initiative targeting over 100,000 children, including girls, internally displaced persons, and children with disabilities.
The intervention includes the construction of 102 new climate-resilient schools and the rehabilitation of 170 existing schools and learning centers.
The programme also aims to improve the learning environment, enhance teacher capacity, and prioritise access for marginalised populations in hard-to-reach areas.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, represented by the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, stated that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and measurable results in social investments.
“With millions of children still out of school, particularly in northern Nigeria, every dollar invested must translate into real and visible progress,” he said.
He also commended Kaduna State for its proactive leadership and timely fulfilment of counterpart funding, describing the state’s role as “a model for replication across other states.”
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, reaffirmed his administration’s prioritisation of education, revealing that the sector’s allocation in the 2025 budget had been increased to 26 percent, and that the state had already contributed $1 million as its share of the funding.
Director-General of the Kuwait Fund, Wahid Al-Bahar, hailed the programme as “an investment in hope,” emphasising that success will be measured not only by infrastructure but also by improved enrolment, learning outcomes, and community engagement.
The loan is part of the ongoing Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) project, launched in 2024, which continues to expand efforts to get more children into classrooms across Nigeria.
Other contributors to the financing structure include the Islamic Development Bank ($10.5 million loan), the Global Partnership for Education ($15.45 million grant), the Education Above All Foundation ($10 million grant), Save the Children International ($0.5 million technical assistance), and Kaduna State’s $1 million contribution.
