Nigeria co-hosts GPE 2026-2030 $5bn education fund with Italy in New York
Nigeria co-hosted the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) 2026-2030 replenishment launch with Italy at a UN General Assembly side event in New York on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Education Minister Tunji Alausa said the move shows President Bola Tinubu's commitment to education and Nigeria's renewed global role, not mainly to attract more funding. The campaign aims to raise US$5 billion for education in over 100 low- and lower-middle-income countries from 2026 to 2030, supporting access, quality systems, foundational learning and teacher capacity. Nigeria has already received about US$800 million from GPE since joining the partnership.
Alausa stressed that teachers are central to sustainable reform, echoing remarks by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who called education an investment in Nigeria's economic future, productivity and stability. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, GPE Board Chair Jakaya Kikwete and activist Malala Yousafzai all backed the push for stronger international investment and gender-responsive education. The Minister noted several partners have pledged more than in the previous replenishment cycle, which reached almost 750 million children worldwide.
For Nigerians, this signals continued prioritisation of teachers, learners and quality education under the Renewed Hope Agenda, while positioning the country to contribute to global learning outcomes.