Nigeria and Italy have agreed to establish a joint Working Group to drive a major global education financing campaign aimed at raising five billion United States dollars to transform learning outcomes for millions of children worldwide.
The initiative, known as the Multiply Possibility Campaign, is part of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) effort to improve access to quality education for up to 750 million children. The campaign will culminate at the Global Education Summit scheduled to hold in Rome, Italy, in September 2026, with projections to unlock an additional 10 billion dollars in domestic education financing by 2030.
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this during a meeting with the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Roberto Mengoni, in Abuja on Wednesday.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasised that advancing education remains a central pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that Nigeria’s large youth population makes sustained investment in education both urgent and strategic.
She explained that the partnership with Italy would not only enhance access to education but also equip young Nigerians with relevant skills for employment, while addressing migration challenges.
“The summit is imperative given Nigeria’s youthful demographics. Education is key to empowering our youth, creating jobs, and managing migration effectively,” she said.
The minister also called for constructive dialogue between both countries on migration issues, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. She highlighted the country’s interest in green investments, particularly in vulnerable communities, as part of efforts to create opportunities that will keep young people productively engaged within Nigeria.
“We are interested in what we can do to keep our youth within our shores in productive ways,” she added.
Earlier, Ambassador Mengoni underscored the importance of the meeting, noting that both Nigeria and Italy, as co-chairs of the GPE, must align on key logistics, including the date and venue of the upcoming summit.
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Beyond education, discussions between both countries also extended to broader areas of cooperation, including tourism, economic development, and defence collaboration.
The planned summit is expected to draw global stakeholders and reinforce international commitment to closing the education financing gap, particularly in developing countries.
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