The Federal Government and EU have set up a committee to oversee a €40 million education project in Northwest Nigeria.
The committee will guide efforts to train teachers and support out-of-school children.
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the European Union, has inaugurated a National Program Steering Committee to supervise the €40 million Education and Youth Empowerment in Northwest Nigeria (EYEPINN) project.
The initiative targets Jigawa, Kano, and Sokoto states, focusing on reducing out-of-school children, improving teacher training, and promoting youth skills development across the Northwest.
The committee is chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, with the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, as co-chair. It will meet yearly to set policy direction, while the EU Technical Assistance Team will act as secretariat. Quarterly technical meetings will also be held for progress review and transparency.
At the inauguration in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, praised the EU for its continuous support to Nigeria’s education sector. Represented by Dr. Usman Ejeh, he said the EYEPINN project is a vital step toward solving the long-standing challenges of out-of-school children, inadequate teacher capacity, and unsafe learning environments.
He noted that the program demonstrates the EU’s strong commitment to improving access to quality education for every Nigerian child, regardless of background or gender. Enitan added that close coordination between federal, state, and local governments, along with partners, will be key to achieving measurable results.
According to him, “Every Euro invested must lead to better learning outcomes, more empowered teachers, safer schools, and a stronger education system that leaves no child behind.”
The EU Delegation’s Team Leader for Human Development, Leila Mathieu, described EYEPINN as the EU’s first independent education project in Nigeria. She explained that it aligns with the Ministry of Education’s priorities and aims to meet the real needs of Nigerians.
Under the EU’s 2021–2027 framework, about €800 million has been allocated to Nigeria through national and regional programmes. The €40 million EYEPINN fund, implemented through UNICEF, Plan International, DIME, and other partners, focuses on improving basic education for out-of-school and nomadic learners by working with Quranic schools.
UNICEF’s Chief of Education, Vanessa Lee, said the project comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s education reforms and will strengthen digital learning systems, financing, and teacher development.
She added that UNICEF remains committed to ensuring every child acquires basic literacy and numeracy skills through modern teaching methods and integrated learning centres.
The Country Director of Plan International, Dr. Charles Usie, praised the EU’s consistent investment in education and health, while Save the Children’s Country Director, Duncan Harvey, said the initiative would improve inclusive learning and ensure equal opportunities for all children.
