Nigeria Secures $25.35m Loan from Kuwait Fund to Tackle Out-of-School Children in Kaduna
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government of Nigeria, acting on behalf of Kaduna State, has finalized a US$25.35 million concessionary loan agreement with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.
The loan is intended to support the “Reaching Out-of-School Children” program in Kaduna State, a major initiative aimed at getting more children into school.
This loan is part of a larger US$62.8 million package that includes contributions from several international partners. This blended financing will be used to expand access to quality education and improve learning for some of Nigeria’s most vulnerable children.
The financing partners and their contributions are as follows: the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development is providing a US$25.35 million concessionary loan, the Islamic Development Bank is contributing US$10.5 million, and the Global Partnership for Education is providing a US$15.45 million grant.
Additionally, the Education Above All Foundation is contributing a US$10 million grant, Save the Children International is offering a US$0.5 million technical assistance grant, and the Kaduna State Government is providing US$1 million in counterpart funding. The total funding for the programme is US$62.8 million.
The Federal Ministry of Finance will oversee financial controls and results reporting in close partnership with Kaduna State and the other participating organizations. Regular joint reviews will be conducted to monitor school enrollment, teacher training, and learning gains to ensure the programme has a measurable impact.
In a statement from the Ministry of Finance, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, represented by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the programme shows Nigeria’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and getting results from its social investments.
He added that, “This partnership is about compassion, equity and the power of education. With millions of children still out of school, especially in the North, every dollar must translate into real change for the children and communities we serve. Kaduna State’s leadership and the strong engagement of our development partners give us confidence that this initiative will become a model for other states.”
Dr. Wahid Al-Bahar, Director-General of the Kuwait Fund, described the project as an investment in hope. He explained, “This is more than infrastructure. By enrolling over 100,000 children, building or upgrading more than 200 schools, and empowering thousands of teachers, we are helping to ensure that no child is left behind. The Kuwait Fund is proud to support this effort and looks forward to deepening our cooperation with Nigeria.”
The Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, said that education is a top priority for the state and announced that Kaduna has already provided its full counterpart funding of US$1 million. The Governor stated, “Education is the cornerstone of our transformation agenda. In 2025, we increased the education share of our budget to 26 percent. Under this programme, we will construct 102 new climate-resilient schools and rehabilitate or upgrade 170 existing schools and learning centers, with a focus on girls, children with disabilities and internally displaced children. This is about restoring dignity and opportunity to every child.”
The programme will focus on four key areas. It will include the construction of new, climate-resilient schools and the rehabilitation of existing facilities in remote communities. The initiative will also work to re-enroll out-of-school children into safe, inclusive, and high-quality learning environments. In addition, there will be a focus on teacher development to improve teaching methods and learning outcomes. Finally, the program will implement community-based solutions to lower the barriers to school attendance and completion, especially for girls and children with disabilities.
The Federal Ministry of Finance noted that, “This partnership marks a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to revolutionize education and provide opportunities for millions of out-of-school children in the State. With the combined efforts of the Federal Government, Kaduna State, and international partners, Nigeria is set to create a brighter future for its next generation.”
