President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to increase the budget for the education sector in Nigeria by as much as 50 percent over the next two years.
In a document titled, Heads Of State Call To Action On Education Financing Ahead Of The Global Education Summit, signed as a form of commitment at the on-going Summit in London, United Kingdom, the President stated:
“We commit to progressively increase our annual domestic education expenditure by 50% over the next two years and up to 100% by 2025 beyond the 20% global benchmark.”
The Nigerian President also joined the President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta to reaffirm the commitment to improve learning outcomes in both countries.
President Buhari stated that this would be done by “ensuring equitable access to quality and inclusive education for all our citizens, with particular emphasis on the girl child.”
“We fully endorse the call for more efficient use of resources and to significantly increase investment in education by strengthening institutions, promoting greater adoption of technology, building the capacities of our teachers and mobilizing additional financial resources through legal frameworks and deliberate intervention on a sustainable basis,” he added.
President Buhari used the opportunity to call for solidarity in building a more secure and prosperous future for children.
The Summit which is being co-hosted by the Prime Minister of UK Boris Johnson and the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta seeks to give opportunity for leaders to make 5-year pledges that will help transform education systems in up to 90 countries and territories across the World.
Nnenna.O
