The European Union (EU) is billed to spend over N32bn on Education and Youth Empowerment in North-Western Nigeria, with a particular focus on girls in rural and underserved areas.
The Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi stated this during a courtesy call on the Minister of State for Education, Professor Mamman Tahir in Abuja, Nigeria.
She said the programme covering Kano, Jigawa and Sokoto States will be launched on 19, October and designed to support the Nigerian government at all levels of governance in the education sector by strengthening planning and implementation, including improving the Education Management Information System (EMIS).
“The €40,000,000 (N32,958,400,000) funding will focus on strengthening sector governance, including EMIS, at all levels of government to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education. This involves policy dialogue, technical assistance, and capacity development.
“Improve access to safe learning environments and enhance teaching and learning quality, especially for girls in underserved areas. This includes teacher training, school materials provision, digital technology integration, and exploring home-learning Initiatives.
“Supporting formal and non-formal education and skill development for youth, especially girls, including out-of-school children, through training, climate change education, and awareness campaigns in collaboration with national and state governments in Jigawa, Kano and Sokoto.
“Foster partnerships with public and private sectors to offer formal and non-formal education and skills development for youth, emphasizing employment and livelihood opportunities.
“This involves mainstreaming out-of-school children, promoting female youth participation, and delivering life skills training, climate change education, and awareness campaigns to reshape social norms and reduce costs for families,” she said.
According to her, the expected outcomes of the programme also include provision of vocational training and critical life skills for youth, including green jobs training.
“Provision of alternative accelerated education programs with options for transitioning to the formal education system and non-formal education tailored to learners’ needs. Non-formal education, training, and skills for youth, with a focus on employment and livelihood opportunities.
“Implementation of safe spaces and Girls’ Clubs to impart critical life skills, particularly forging and preparing them for green jobs,” she said.
She said the EU had offered and still offers a lot of scholarships to Nigerians, especially in the area of Master’s Degree programmes.
The Minister of Education, Professor Mamman Tahir commended the life-changing Education and Youth Empowerment funding programme of the EU, stressing that “investing in young boys and girls is the best thing for the country Nigeria,” adding that it is an area which also remains the priority of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration.
He however, called for “the sustainability and expansion of the programme after the first five (5) years scheduled for the implementation.
“Our concern is that after the 5 years of the programme what happens?
“Apart from the 3 states chosen, there are other states within the North-West, North-Central and North-East where the crisis made a lot of girls abandon school. In fact, the challenge spreads across the country and I want you to bear that in mind,” said the Minister.
He also observed that the Federal Ministry of Education was not involved in the structure of the intervention programme, thereby calling for the defect to be corrected.
Outputs
Some of the benefits of the prigramme includes:
- Strengthened education planning and policy frame implementation.
- Enhanced policy dialogue within the education sector.
- Strengthened community involvement in school education administration.
- Renovated and well-equipped classrooms and schools with adequate security, water sanitation, and learning materials.
- Enhanced Skills and capacity of teachers.
- Promotion of digital materials and innovative EdTech tools for both in-school and out-of-school learning.
- Provision of vocational training and critical life skills for youth, including green jobs training
- Provision of alternative accelerated education programs with options for transitioning to the formal education system and non-formal education tailored to learners’ needs.
- Non-formal education, training, and skills for youth, with a focus on employment and livelihood opportunities
- Implementation of safe spaces and Girls’ Clubs to impart critical life skills, particularly forging and preparing them for green jobs.
- Promotion of behavioral change campaigns, with an emphasis on empowering girls, among others.
