Nigeria and Italy have agreed to establish a bilateral working group to advance the Global Partnership for Education's (GPE) Multiply Possibility Campaign, targeting $5 billion in global funding and an additional $10 billion in domestic education financing by 2030. The announcement was made on Thursday by Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a statement signed by spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
Global Education Summit in Rome
The initiative will culminate at the Global Education Summit scheduled for September 2026 in Rome, Italy. According to Ebienfa, the summit aims to transform learning for 750 million children worldwide and aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes youth skills development, employment, and migration control.
The statement read: "Nigeria and Italy have agreed to form a Working Group to implement the proposed Global Partnership for Education (GPE) financing campaign aimed at mobilizing Five billion United States Dollars for Education. The initiative, tagged the Multiply Possibility Campaign, seeks to transform learning for 750 million children and will culminate at the Global Education Summit in Rome, Italy, in September 2026. The campaign is expected to unlock an additional ten billion dollars in domestic education financing by 2030."
Deepening Bilateral Relations
The agreement followed recent discussions between Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Italian Ambassador Roberto Mengoni. The meeting also addressed tourism, economic cooperation, and defense ties, underscoring the deepening bilateral relationship between the two nations.
"The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the disclosure when she received in audience the Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, His Excellency, Roberto Mengoni, on Wednesday, 20th May, 2026," the statement added.
Focus on Youth and Migration
Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized that advancing education is a key priority of President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the summit is imperative due to Nigeria's large youth population. She stated that the partnership would equip young people with skills, create employment opportunities, and help control migration.
The minister also proposed constructive dialogue on migration issues, assuring that both countries would continue to work closely to deepen bilateral ties. She highlighted Nigeria's interest in green investments, particularly in vulnerable communities, and expressed a desire to keep youth productively engaged within the country.
Ambassador's Remarks
Earlier, Ambassador Mengoni noted that the meeting was necessary for both countries, as co-chairs of the Global Partnership for Education, to agree on a date and venue for the education summit. The discussions also covered tourism, economic cooperation, and defense collaboration.
