Nigeria Gets $500M Boost for Educational Development

The Nigerian education sector will get $500 million from a pool of global support, according to an announcement by the United Nations Special Envoy on Global Education and former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. He visited Abuja, and held a meeting of Coalition Interventions to Support Access and Quality of Education in Nigeria, hosted by President Jonathan. The funds, which will come from the Federal Government ($250 million), United States Agency for International Development ($100 million), Global Partnership for Education ($100 million) and an undisclosed source ($50 million), will boost the development of universal basic education in the country. “The federal government of Nigeria has made available $250million for investment in education by the states. What we have managed to do by talking to the individual agencies over the last few days is to match that $250million by the additional $250million making possible new investment of $500million in education in Nigeria,” he said. “There will be additional cash transfers for training, introduction of new technologies, which can now match the initiatives that have been taken by Mr. Dangote from the business community and other initiatives among five agencies.” President Jonathan appreciated the gesture, noting that education is a vital aspect in making Nigeria’s economy viable through well-educated individuals that move the wheel of industries. “Education is critical to making our youth more employable. The Coordinating Minister of the Economy/Finance and the Minister of Education will work with the states to make sure that the programme succeeds,” he said.