Roundtable on Strengthening Nigeria’s Education Sector: Technical Support and Partnerships

Washington, D.C. – February 18, 2024

The Nigerian Professionals Network (NPN) successfully convened a high-profile roundtable discussion focused on strengthening Nigeria’s education sector through technical support and strategic partnerships. The event, held in Washington, D.C., featured the Honorable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who shared his comprehensive six-point agenda aimed at transforming Nigeria’s education landscape. His agenda emphasized critical areas including out-of-school children, girl-child education, data and digitization, STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine), education quality assurance, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

The roundtable also featured distinguished panelists, including Laura Frigenti, CEO of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), and Luis Benveniste, the World Bank’s Global Director for Education Global Practice. These experts provided insights on pressing educational challenges and offered strategies for Nigeria to leverage international funding and technical expertise to enhance its education sector.

Key discussion points addressed during the roundtable included:

• Effective strategies, based on GPE’s global experience, for attracting international funding to support Nigeria’s educational priorities.
• Policy recommendations to combat the issue of out-of-school children, leveraging GPE’s global successes.
• The World Bank’s education priorities and how Nigeria can maximize financing to scale critical education initiatives.
• Strategies to equip Nigerian youth with the necessary skills to thrive in an increasingly digitized world and align the education system with workforce demands.

Additional contributions came from representatives of leading global organizations, including Malala Fund, represented by Nabila Aguele – Chief Executive, Nigeria, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, represented by Clio Dintilhac. Contributions also came from Nigerian experts in the diaspora with extensive experience in education, providing valuable perspectives on innovative solutions for sectoral improvement.

Olumide Lawal, the Convener of the event, underscored the roundtable’s significance in fostering national development through education sector reforms. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Nigerian government, international organizations, and private sector stakeholders in driving sustainable educational improvements.

The roundtable reaffirmed NPN’s commitment to contributing to the advancement of education Nigeria through innovative policies, partnerships, and increased investment, ensuring that the next generation is equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to compete with their counterparts globally.

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Nigerian Professionals Network
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