In a move aimed at enhancing educational opportunities in the North-West region of Nigeria, the European Union (EU) has announced an additional investment of 5.4 million euros dedicated to building the capacity of teachers.
This significant financial commitment was revealed by EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, during the official launch of a 40 million euro intervention programme focusing on education and youth empowerment in North-Western Nigeria, executed through the Global Gateway initiative.
Urpilainen emphasised the EU’s commitment to reducing the alarmingly high number of out-of-school children in the North-West region of Nigeria by improving access to quality education and empowering the youth in the area.
She stated that this investment is complemented by a separate 5.4 million euro programme, specifically designed to enhance the resilience and capacity of teachers working in challenging environments.
The EU commissioner stressed the pivotal role that teachers play in the education system, highlighting the necessity of investing in their training and development.
She outlined the programme’s third objective, which centers on empowering youth with essential skills, providing vocational education, and promoting behavioral change campaigns to challenge harmful social norms and empower girls.
Urpilainen also mentioned the EU’s commitment to providing vocational education and training for Nigerian youths, equipping them with the skills required to excel in the labor market.
She described the programme as a collaborative effort with Nigerian authorities to ensure ownership and a tailored response to local needs.
The EU commissioner emphasised the inclusion of young people in decision-making processes, creating spaces and structures where they can contribute and feel visible.
She underlined the strategic partnership between Nigeria, as the economic powerhouse of Africa, and the EU in the West region.
The programme main focus is to provide access to quality education and youth empowerment, particularly for out-of-school children, with a special emphasis on girls.
It includes various components, such as direct assistance to families, cash transfers, social protection, income generation, gifts, and indirect support through agricultural practices.
The programme seeks to promote validated teaching and learning in targeted schools and support child-centered medical care, sexual reproductive health, racial gender equality training, and community-based and state-level capacities to deliver on education.
The North-West governors expressed their appreciation for the EU’s support in addressing the issue of out-of-school children in the region.
Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa, speaking on behalf of the North-West governors, acknowledged the region’s education challenges and the timely nature of the EU’s support.
He reaffirmed their collective commitment to prioritise education and improve the educational system.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, highlighted the significance of education in national development and the necessity of empowering youth for the country’s future success.
He urged state governors to focus on prioritising education and youth empowerment and noted that the government is ready to allocate 25 per cent of the budget to education.
The education sector roadmap, soon to be released, aligns with the objectives of the European Union in revitalising the education sector.
The commitment from the European Union represents a substantial step towards addressing the education and youth empowerment challenges in the North-West region of Nigeria, ultimately contributing to the creation of resilient societies and the resolution of significant societal issues.
