The Federal Government of Nigeria signed a $62.8 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) to fund the Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) initiative in Kaduna State. 


The agreement, the first of its kind by the Kuwait Fund in Nigeria, aims to expand access to education for marginalized children.


Governor Uba Sani, who witnessed the signing, hailed the MoU as a significant milestone. The agreement was signed by Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Finance, on behalf of the Federal Government, and Dr. Waleed Al-Bahar, Director General of the Kuwait Fund. 


“This historic partnership marks a bold step toward addressing Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis,” Sani stated.


Since May 29, 2023, Kaduna State has prioritized education, allocating 25% of its 2024 budget and 26.14% of its 2025 budget to the sector. 


The state has built 60 new secondary schools, constructed 700 classrooms, renovated 1,049 others, reduced tertiary institution tuition by 50%, and established three modern vocational institutes aligned with the federal Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) agenda.


The ROOSC project, designed with local and international partners, targets Nigeria’s 18 million out-of-school children, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 4. 


Kaduna has fulfilled 100% of its counterpart funding, enabling the construction of 102 climate-resilient schools and the rehabilitation of 170 learning centers across all 23 local government areas. 


The initiative prioritizes school safety, inclusive learning, and reintegration of girls, children with disabilities, and internally displaced children.


Governor Sani expressed gratitude to partners, including the Kuwait Fund, Islamic Development Bank, Global Partnership for Education, Education Above All Foundation, Save the Children International, and UNICEF, as well as the federal Ministers of Finance and Education. 


He reaffirmed Kaduna’s commitment to transparent implementation to ensure quality education for every child.