The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a $62.8 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) to boost the Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) initiative in Kaduna State.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, described the agreement as a historic milestone — marking the Kuwait Fund’s first-ever intervention in Nigeria and a significant stride toward expanding access to education in the state.
“I had the honour of witnessing the signing of a $62.8 million MoU between the Federal Government of Nigeria—through the Ministry of Finance—and the Kuwait Fund for the ROOSC project in Kaduna State,” Governor Sani said in a statement. “This historic agreement represents a major step forward in our efforts to ensure that every child has access to quality education.”
The deal was formalised with Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Finance, signing on behalf of the Federal Government, while KFAED Director General, Dr. Waleed Al-Bahar, represented the Kuwait Fund.
Governor Sani highlighted his administration’s commitment to education, noting that 25% of Kaduna State’s 2024 budget was allocated to the sector, rising to 26.14% in 2025. Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, the state has built 60 new secondary schools, constructed 700 classrooms, renovated over 1,049 classrooms, halved tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions, and established three modern vocational institutes aligned with the Federal Government’s TVET agenda.
With over 18 million children still out of school in Nigeria, the ROOSC project aims to remove barriers to learning and reintegrate marginalised children into the education system. Kaduna State has met 100% of its counterpart funding requirement, paving the way for the construction of 102 climate-resilient schools and rehabilitation of 170 learning centres across all 23 local government areas. The initiative will prioritise safe, inclusive environments for girls, children with disabilities, and internally displaced children.
Governor Sani expressed appreciation to the project’s partners, including the Islamic Development Bank, Global Partnership for Education, Education Above All Foundation, Save the Children International, and UNICEF.
“Kaduna remains fully committed to transparent, accountable implementation as we work to ensure quality education for every child,” the governor affirmed