Nigeria, Italy Partner To Mobilise $5bn Education Campaign For 750m Children

nafisatNigeria and Italy have agreed to establish a joint Working Group to drive a proposed Global Partnership for Education (GPE) financing campaign aimed at mobilising $5 billion for global education support ahead of the September 2026 Global Education Summit in Rome.

The initiative, known as the “Multiply Possibility Campaign,” is targeted at transforming learning opportunities for about 750 million children globally, while also unlocking an additional $10 billion in domestic education financing by 2030.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this during a meeting with the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Roberto Mengoni, in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to the minister, the partnership aligns with the education priorities of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that Nigeria’s youthful population makes investment in education increasingly urgent.

She noted that the summit and the financing campaign would play a significant role in equipping young people with relevant skills, expanding employment opportunities and addressing migration concerns.

“The partnership would help in giving the youth skills, employment and also controlling migration,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

The minister also advocated constructive engagement between both countries in managing migration issues, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Italy.

“We are interested in what we can do to keep our youth within our shores in productive ways,” she stated, adding that the Federal Government was also exploring green investments, particularly in vulnerable communities.

Speaking earlier, Ambassador Mengoni said the meeting was important for both countries as co-chairs of the Global Partnership for Education to agree on arrangements for the forthcoming education summit scheduled to hold in Rome, Italy, in September 2026.

Beyond education, discussions at the meeting also focused on tourism, economic collaboration and defence cooperation between Nigeria and Italy.

The Global Education Summit is expected to bring together governments, development partners and stakeholders to mobilise funding and commitments toward improving access to quality education worldwide.