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The Federal Government has obtained a $25.35 million concessionary loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to aid a significant effort aimed at decreasing the number of out-of-school children in Kaduna State.
This agreement, signed for the Kaduna State Government, is part of a larger blended financing package of $62.8 million with international development partners, aimed at enhancing access to quality and inclusive education in one of Nigeria's most affected regions.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by Mohammed Manga, the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, the loan will fund the Reaching Out-of-School Children initiative, a large-scale intervention focused on vulnerable groups such as girls, children with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.
The statement noted, “In a significant step towards enhancing access to quality education in Nigeria, the Federal Government and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development have collaborated to support the Reaching Out-of-School Children programme in Kaduna State.
On August 3, 2025, a $25.35 million concessionary loan agreement was signed today between the Federal Government of Nigeria, on behalf of Kaduna State, and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.
This facility is part of a broader $62.8 million blended financing package with international partners to expand quality, inclusive education and improve learning outcomes for some of Nigeria’s most vulnerable children.”
The programme aims to enroll over 100,000 children, construct or upgrade more than 200 schools, and enhance both the learning environment and teacher capacity in underserved areas throughout the state.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, represented at the signing by Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, stated that the initiative underscores the government’s dedication to transparency, accountability, and measurable results in social investments. He emphasized that, with millions of children still out of school, particularly in northern Nigeria, each intervention dollar must yield significant and visible progress.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State reiterated the state’s commitment to education, revealing that Kaduna has already met its counterpart funding obligation of $1 million.
He mentioned that the education sector’s allocation in the 2025 budget has been raised to 26 percent as part of a wider commitment to human capital development. Under the new programme framework, 102 new climate-resilient schools will be built, and 170 existing schools and learning centers will be rehabilitated, with a specific focus on marginalized groups and hard-to-reach communities.
Dr. Wahid Al-Bahar, Director-General of the Kuwait Fund, highlighted the project as an investment in hope, recognizing that its objectives go beyond just infrastructure.
He affirmed the fund's pride in backing an initiative aimed to ensure every child has access to education, noting that success will be measured by improved enrollment, enhanced learning outcomes, and community involvement.
Other partners in the financing structure include the Islamic Development Bank, contributing a $10.5 million loan; the Global Partnership for Education, providing a $15.45 million grant; the Education Above All Foundation, with a $10 million grant; and Save the Children International, offering $0.5 million in technical support. Kaduna State's contribution amounts to $1 million.
The Federal Ministry of Finance will be responsible for overseeing the programme’s fiduciary procedures and coordinating results reporting alongside the state and partner organizations.
This will include regular joint assessments of enrollment rates, teacher training metrics, and academic performance indicators to guarantee the programme yields measurable and sustainable impacts.
