Kaduna State Government has secured a landmark $62.8 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) to implement the Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) project in the state.
The historic agreement — KFAED’s first-ever intervention in Nigeria — was signed in Abuja between the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance, and the Kuwait Fund. The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while KFAED Director General, Dr. Waleed Al-Bahar, signed for his agency.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the State Governor, Uba Sani described the deal as a significant victory for Nigeria’s education sector and a bold step in Kaduna’s ongoing efforts to reintegrate out-of-school children into formal education.
Backed by several international development partners, the ROOSC project will deliver 102 climate-resilient schools and rehabilitate 170 learning centres across Kaduna’s 23 local government areas. The initiative will focus on inclusive education, school safety, and the community-based reintegration of vulnerable children — including girls, children with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.
With more than 18 million children currently out of school in Nigeria, the ROOSC initiative is expected to serve as a model for sustainable, community-driven educational reform nationwide.
Governor Sani disclosed that Kaduna State had already fulfilled 100% of its counterpart funding obligation, underlining the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“Since May 29, 2023, we’ve made education the cornerstone of our development agenda,” the governor stated.
“In 2024, we allocated 25% of our state budget to education, and that has risen to 26.14% in 2025. We have built 60 new secondary schools, renovated over 1,049 classrooms, and established three modern vocational centres.”
The ROOSC project is supported by a consortium of global partners, including the Islamic Development Bank, Global Partnership for Education, Education Above All Foundation, Save the Children International, and UNICEF.
Governor Sani also commended the Federal Ministries of Finance and Education for their support, reaffirming Kaduna’s dedication to delivering quality, inclusive education for every child.
The ROOSC initiative aligns with Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
