UK Advocates Access To Quality Education For Nigerian Children

The United Kingdom has stated that its goal for Nigeria’s education sector is to ensure that all Nigerian children have access to a quality education.

Speaking at the Recovery Conference in Kano on Thursday, the acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to assisting the Kano State Government in addressing significant education sector challenges in the state, stating that “the UK’s education objective in Nigeria is to ensure all Nigerian children have access to quality education.”

The conference, titled “Repositioning Education in Kano State: Navigating the Path to Excellence,” provided an opportunity for stakeholders to identify long-term and scalable solutions to reposition and improve Kano State’s education sector, ensuring access to quality education for all.

The conference was not only a response to the recent declaration of a state of emergency in education, but it also demonstrated the state government’s willingness to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to propose solutions and implement innovative approaches to resolving the state’s learning crisis.

Since 2021, Kano state has developed policies and plans, as well as trained head teachers and teachers, to provide safe, inclusive, and high-quality foundational learning for all, with support from the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme.

Gill Lever, Acting British High Commissioner, stated at the event that “the UK is proud of the breadth and range of partnership with the Government of Nigeria, and of course education is an essential component to underpin human capital development.” I am delighted that PLANE has been able to assist Kano’s critical priority of addressing the State of Emergency in Education.

“Only through collaborations like this, with the best minds and years of experience gathered, can a path be charted to convert political will into long-term action.”

In his speech at the conference’s opening ceremony, Kano State Governor His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf stated, “The conference marks a historic moment in our struggle to revitalise and reposition the education sector in our beloved state. Education is more than just a means of achieving personal success; it is also a means of advancing societal progress, economic development, and prosperity. It is our responsibility as custodians of the public trust to ensure that every child in Kano receives a quality education that will prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century.”

Cynthia Rowe, the Development Director at the British High Commission in Abuja, said:
“Education is critical to achieving long-term poverty reduction, prosperous, resilient economies, and peaceful, stable societies. Today’s children are the talent of tomorrow. We neglect their education at our peril, but if we get this right, a world of opportunities could open up, which has to be the most motivating factor for all of us.”

Dr Nguyan Feese, PLANE’s National Team Lead, stated, “PLANE is excited to support the Kano State Government in charting a new course to reform its education sector through the organisation of the Kano Education Recovery Conference.

We are committed to continuing to support the state’s efforts to reform the education sector and provide safe, inclusive, and high-quality education services that will improve the lives of millions of Kano State students.”

She also urged the Kano State Government to conduct its own Learning Poverty Assessment in order to obtain accurate data on the state’s educational situation and the number of out-of-school children.