Education

The United Kingdom government is shifting its international education strategy, setting a new target of £40 billion a year in education exports by 2030, while dropping its long-standing numerical goal for foreign student enrolment on UK campuses.

The policy change, reported by The Guardian, replaces a 2019 objective that aimed to attract 600,000 international students annually to study in the UK. The move signals a recalibration of policy as ministers seek to balance migration pressures with the growing economic importance of the education sector.

Under the revised approach, the UK will focus less on the volume of overseas students physically studying in the country and more on expanding British education abroad through partnerships, overseas campuses, and transnational education programmes.

What the government is saying

According to the Department for Education, the new strategy removes numerical caps or targets for international students studying in the UK. Instead, universities and education providers will be encouraged to enter new global markets by opening overseas hubs and forming partnerships with institutions abroad.

This approach allows students to access UK-branded education closer to home, while still contributing to British education exports through tuition fees, licensing arrangements, and collaborative programmes.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the policy shift would help universities diversify income streams, strengthen international partnerships, and widen access to UK-quality education, while continuing to support domestic economic growth.

Alongside the new export-focused strategy, the government plans to introduce tighter compliance standards for institutions recruiting international students to the UK. Universities that fail to meet these standards could face recruitment caps or lose their licence to admit overseas students, according to the report.

Ministers, however, emphasised that the UK remains open to genuine international students. The government also confirmed in December that the UK will rejoin the Erasmus+ programme in 2027, restoring access to student exchange opportunities across Europe.

Why this matters

The policy adjustment comes amid a notable decline in UK study visas. In the year ending June 2025, the UK issued 431,725 sponsored study visas, an 18% drop year-on-year and a 34% fall from the peak recorded in 2023.

In addition, the government announced a new levy of £925 per international student per year of study in the 2024 autumn budget, which will take effect from August 2028. The levy is expected to add to the overall cost of studying in the UK and has raised concerns among universities and student groups.

Despite the visa slowdown, demand remains resilient in some areas. Data from UCAS showed that international undergraduate applications rose 2.2% in 2025 to 138,460, with applications from China increasing by a record 10%.

Student reactions

Student leaders have expressed concern that the shift towards overseas delivery could affect campus diversity and the student experience in the UK. National Union of Students UK president Amira Campbell said students value learning alongside peers from around the world on the same campus, noting that international students are central to the global reputation of UK universities.

She added that as institutions expand their overseas presence, the government must ensure that teaching quality and student experience at international campuses match the standards offered in the UK.

Overall, the new strategy underscores a broader rethink of how the UK monetises its global education brand—prioritising export growth and international reach, while tightening controls on migration-linked student numbers.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has identified ₦927.98 million in unpaid student upkeep allowances owed to 11,685 beneficiaries after a reconciliation exercise covering the 2024/2025 academic session.

The disclosure was made on Tuesday in Abuja by NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, while briefing journalists on the progress, impact, and operational challenges of the federal student loan scheme.

According to Sawyerr, the unpaid amounts were not the result of policy failure or deliberate withholding of funds, but stemmed largely from technical and operational issues, including failed transactions, network downtime, and unvalidated or incorrect bank account details submitted by students.

Scale of applications and disbursements

Sawyerr said the student loan programme has recorded significant uptake since its launch, reflecting strong demand across Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

“As of today, 1,361,011 applications have been received, 864,798 students have benefited so far, and total disbursement stands at ₦161.97 billion,” he said.

He broke down the figure to show that ₦89.94 billion was paid directly to 263 tertiary institutions for tuition and institutional charges, while ₦72.03 billion was disbursed directly to students as upkeep allowances.

According to him, these numbers demonstrate the tangible impact of the scheme in easing financial pressures on students and their families, while expanding access to higher education.

Why the arrears occurred

On the identified ₦927.98 billion arrears, Sawyerr explained that a post-session review revealed that thousands of students did not receive their upkeep payments due to operational lapses rather than funding gaps.

“After the 2024/2025 academic session, it was revealed that 11,685 students had outstanding upkeep payments amounting to ₦927.98 million,” he said.

He added that management has approved a one-off reconciliation process that includes direct engagement with affected students, a grace period to update bank details, multi-layer validation checks, and immediate payment once verification is concluded.

Data validation underway

Also speaking at the briefing, the Executive Director of Operations at NELFUND, Mustapha Iyal, said the unpaid upkeep cases represent only a small fraction of beneficiaries from the more than 400,000 students covered during the 2024/2025 academic year.

He noted that many of the issues arose from incorrect or incomplete data submitted during application, prompting the fund to formally engage tertiary institutions to validate student records.

According to Iyal, feedback has already been received from over 100 institutions, and payment of the outstanding upkeep allowances is expected to commence shortly once verification is completed.

He also disclosed that applications for the 2025/2026 academic session opened in November 2025, with more than 200 institutions submitting student data. This has resulted in about 280,000 applications, with loan disbursements already reaching over 150,000 students.

On repayments, Iyal said the process has begun, as some beneficiaries who have graduated and secured employment have started repaying their loans in line with programme guidelines.

Strengthening the scheme

Sawyerr said NELFUND is also deepening partnerships with philanthropists, corporate organisations, and government agencies to enhance funding sustainability. He cited a ₦20 billion collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education focused on Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

He added that recent reforms—such as amendments to the student loan law, removal of guarantor requirements, inclusion of upkeep allowances, and the fund’s ability to raise and invest resources—have strengthened the long-term viability of the scheme.

What you should know

NELFUND’s student loan programme continues to gain traction, with more than 200 tertiary institutions submitting updated student data for the 2025/2026 academic session. According to earlier reports, the University of Maiduguri led in applications, followed by Bayero University Kano, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Ahmadu Bello University, and the University of Ilorin.

Sawyerr clarified that students of private universities are currently excluded due to high tuition costs, limited data on financial capacity, and funding constraints, but stressed that they are not permanently excluded from the programme.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has renewed calls for a sustainable research funding framework that would allocate at least 1% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to university research, innovation, and development.

The demand was reiterated on Wednesday in Abuja by ASUU President, Chris Pinuwa, during the formal unveiling of the 2025 re-negotiated agreement between the Federal Government and the union. According to him, decades of underinvestment in research have significantly weakened Nigeria’s higher education system and reduced its global competitiveness.

Chronic underfunding of research

Pinuwa said Nigerian universities have long struggled with inadequate research financing, limiting their ability to drive innovation, industrial development, and knowledge production.

“Nigerian universities have faced paucity of research funding for a very long time, and I am glad that research and development funding is a component of the 2025 ASUU–FG re-negotiated agreement,” he said.

He explained that the agreement provides for the transmission of the National Research Council Bill to the National Assembly for legislative consideration. If passed, the bill would institutionalise a funding mechanism that earmarks at least 1% of GDP annually for research, innovation, and development.

“The proposed bill shall provide for at least 1% equivalent of GDP as a source of funding for research, innovation and development. It is my belief that members of the National Assembly will expedite action on its passage,” Pinuwa added.

Governance and autonomy concerns

Beyond funding, the ASUU president raised concerns over what he described as persistent governance weaknesses in Nigeria’s university system. While university autonomy is recognised in principle and partially backed by law, he said implementation remains weak, allowing continued external interference in university affairs.

He cited the frequent dissolution of governing councils and undue interference in the appointment of vice-chancellors as practices that undermine meritocracy and institutional stability. According to him, such actions often lead to internal crises, litigation, staff polarisation, and prolonged disruptions to academic activities.

Pinuwa also warned against the growing trend of prolonged acting vice-chancellorships in some institutions, stressing that weak oversight of governing councils and principal officers threatens the integrity of the university system.

Standards in new universities under scrutiny

The ASUU president further criticised promotion practices in some newly established federal universities of education. He alleged that due process and established criteria for professorial appointments were being compromised in some cases.

According to him, the conversion of colleges of education into universities should not translate into a dilution of academic standards. He warned that erosion of promotion benchmarks and governance norms could have lasting consequences for the credibility of Nigeria’s higher education sector.

Pinuwa called on vice-chancellors and governing councils of affected institutions to urgently review questionable promotions and administrative practices, stressing that safeguarding standards and strengthening autonomy are as critical as securing sustainable research funding.

What you should know

The newly unveiled agreement concludes the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU–FG agreement and is designed to address long-standing issues around funding, welfare, and stability in Nigeria’s university system.

Key provisions include a review of academic staff remuneration, approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, and scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026. Under the agreement, academic staff salaries will increase by 40%, delivered through a consolidated academic tools allowance built into the salary structure to support research, publications, conferences, and related activities.

Previously earned academic allowances have also been restructured to improve transparency and accountability, while a new professorial credit allowance has been introduced for professors and academic readers to support research and administrative responsibilities.

ASUU maintains that without a GDP-linked research funding framework, Nigeria’s universities will continue to lag behind peers in Africa and globally, regardless of salary and welfare improvements.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to disburse N6.452 billion to beneficiary tertiary institutions across Nigeria under its 2026 intervention cycle, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen infrastructure, research capacity, and academic output in the higher education sector.

The disclosure was made on Tuesday in Abuja by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, during a stakeholders’ workshop with heads of beneficiary institutions focused on the 2026 disbursement guidelines. The engagement brought together vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts to clarify allocation structures, compliance expectations, and performance benchmarks for accessing funds.

According to Echono, the 2026 intervention is designed around uniform allocations for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, reflecting the Fund’s strategy to promote equity while driving measurable impact across Nigeria’s tertiary education system. Under the approved framework, each university will receive N2.525 billion, polytechnics will get N1.871 billion, while colleges of education will be allocated N2.056 billion each.

He explained that the total direct disbursement represents about 90.75% of the intervention funds, comprising 50% annual direct disbursements and 43.75% special direct disbursements. In total, 271 beneficiary institutions are expected to receive allocations under the annual direct disbursement component alone, with funding provided regardless of an institution’s age, size, or student enrolment.

Echono said the 2026 funds would be deployed to strengthen critical physical infrastructure, upgrade academic programmes, and enhance research, innovation, and knowledge production across universities and other tertiary institutions. He noted that improving the quality, relevance, and global competitiveness of Nigerian research remains a central objective of the intervention.

A key highlight of the 2026 cycle is the integration of the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) platform into the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN). According to Echono, this initiative is aimed at improving access to global academic resources, expanding digital research collaboration, and modernising ICT-driven learning and research systems across institutions.

Beyond infrastructure and digital upgrades, Echono disclosed that TETFund is intensifying investments in research and development facilities, including laboratories and workshops. He revealed that four research laboratories are expected to be completed and commissioned within the year, while two additional facilities have commenced construction and are scheduled for completion next year.

In the agricultural sector, the Fund is transitioning large university farms to modern greenhouse systems and advanced equipment, a move aimed at boosting productivity, reducing labour intensity, and strengthening practical agricultural training and research. Similarly, the ICT roadmap will be expanded through enhanced digital services, experience centres, substation-based internet access, and international education research partnerships.

Echono also urged heads of institutions to fully utilise their 2025 allocations, stressing that future disbursements would increasingly be tied to performance, enrolment levels, and demonstrated progress. Institutions with significant unutilised funds, he warned, would not be eligible for fresh allocations until existing resources are effectively deployed.

In context, TETFund’s 2026 intervention builds on a steady expansion in funding over recent years. In 2024, the Fund approved over N643 billion for public tertiary institutions, while the 2025 cycle rose to about N700 billion, with more than 91% earmarked for direct disbursements. The 2026 plan signals continued commitment to using targeted funding as a catalyst for sustainable growth, innovation, and improved educational outcomes across Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, has provided clarity on why students enrolled in private universities are currently excluded from the federal government’s student loan programme, stressing that the decision is temporary and driven by practical constraints rather than policy bias.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Sawyerr addressed growing public concerns around fairness and access, particularly from families whose children attend private tertiary institutions. According to him, the present scope of the loan scheme reflects funding limitations, high tuition costs in private universities, and gaps in reliable data on students’ financial capacity.

He explained that private universities generally charge significantly higher fees than public institutions, making it more difficult to design a sustainable loan structure within the fund’s current financial resources. In addition, Sawyerr noted that NELFUND does not yet have sufficient data to accurately assess the financial backgrounds of students in private institutions, which complicates the targeting of loans to those who need them most.

“The private sector institutions tend to charge more. We also don’t have accurate information about the financial capacity of people,” he said, adding that these challenges influenced the initial rollout of the scheme.

As a result, NELFUND has adopted what Sawyerr described as a “blunt instrument” approach in the early phase of implementation. Under this model, priority is given to students in public institutions, based on the assumption that those who attend public universities are more likely to come from lower-income backgrounds.

“We are using a little bit of a blunt instrument at the moment to say, look, people who are short of money tend to go to the public sector,” he explained.

However, Sawyerr was quick to emphasise that private university students have not been permanently excluded. He said discussions with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who championed the student loan initiative, point to a broader long-term vision of universal access.

“The exclusion is a temporal thing in my view,” he said. “Once we’ve been able to cover those who really need it, then we will look at those.”

According to him, the president’s intent is for all Nigerians, regardless of the type of institution they attend, to eventually benefit from the scheme. Achieving this, however, will require additional resources and, potentially, amendments to the existing law establishing the loan fund.

“And I think that will happen when the resources are there. I think that we will have to go back and amend the law so that all can get it. The point is, there is political will to support every Nigerian having access to this loan,” Sawyerr added.

Addressing fears that the scheme could be politicised or manipulated to favour children of politically connected individuals, Sawyerr insisted that the application process is strictly neutral. He explained that the NELFUND portal does not collect information related to political affiliation, ethnicity, or region.

“It is totally agnostic. When you go to that portal, it doesn’t ask you whether you’re a member of a political party. It doesn’t ask you whether you’re a member of a particular tribe,” he said, describing the programme as a national welfare initiative open to all eligible Nigerians.

He further noted that NELFUND has no mechanism for identifying applicants based on political leanings, adding that such data is neither requested nor processed during application reviews.

Providing broader context, Sawyerr said the student loan scheme was designed in response to Nigeria’s demographic realities and persistent funding challenges in the education sector. With more than 70 percent of Nigeria’s estimated 230 million population under the age of 35, demand for tertiary education far outstrips available public funding.

“We are a nation with a very high number of youth,” he said, noting that financial barriers prevent many young Nigerians from attaining higher education. The law establishing NELFUND, he explained, seeks to expand access to tertiary education within a resource-constrained environment while also addressing chronic underfunding in publicly owned institutions.

He added that public universities have suffered years of inadequate funding, making student support interventions such as loans even more critical.

Recent data from NELFUND underscores the scale of demand for the programme. As of December 18, 2025, the fund had received a total of 1,274,144 applications since the launch of its portal on May 24, 2024. Of these, 788,947 students have been approved as beneficiaries. On December 17 alone, 4,144 new applications were submitted, reflecting continued uptake.

In terms of disbursements, NELFUND has provided financial support to 262 institutions nationwide. Institutional fees paid so far amount to N82.35 billion, while upkeep allowances for students total N72.03 billion, bringing cumulative disbursements to N154.37 billion.

While private university students remain outside the current scope, NELFUND insists the framework is evolving. As funding expands and better data systems are developed, the scheme’s coverage is expected to widen, aligning with the long-term goal of making tertiary education accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of where they choose to study.

The Federal Government has disbursed N4.7 billion as the first tranche of stipends to beneficiaries under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, marking a major step in Nigeria’s renewed strategy to expand practical skills development and reduce unemployment among young people. The announcement was made by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who confirmed that both trainees and accredited training centres have now received direct payments under the scheme.

The disbursement is the outcome of several months of programme implementation that began in May. It reflects the government’s broader drive to create a pipeline of technically skilled workers that can support Nigeria’s industrial aspirations, bridge the skills gap, and enhance economic productivity. By prioritising employability and enterprise creation, the TVET programme is expected to play a central role in empowering young Nigerians with practical, income-ready skills.

In a public update released on X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Alausa described the payment phase as a “major milestone” in the rollout of the Federal Ministry of Education’s vocational training agenda. According to him, more than 42,000 fully registered beneficiaries have received their monthly stipends, while over 600 accredited training centres have been compensated for their role in providing structured, certified training across various trades.

“We have begun the first round of direct payments to trainees and training centres across the country,” he stated. “Over 42,000 students have now received their monthly N22,500 stipend for upkeep and transportation. More than 600 independent training centres have also been paid for the skills training they provide, ensuring quality and continuity.”

Dr. Alausa emphasised that the first tranche of funding is only the beginning of a larger, continuous rollout that will cover more trainees as registrations, assessments, and enrolments continue nationwide. He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Ministry to expedite skills-based empowerment programmes as part of the administration’s focus on youth employment, innovation, and inclusive economic growth. In line with this directive, the TVET programme has rapidly moved from registration phases into practical, hands-on training within a matter of months.

To support nationwide participation, the Federal Ministry of Education opened the accreditation window to all eligible vocational institutions, enterprise centres, and master-craft practitioners. Accredited centres must meet strict requirements, including registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), adoption of an NSQ-based curriculum, an acceptable instructor-to-student ratio, and adequate workshop infrastructure. Only centres with qualified assessors and quality-assurance personnel were cleared to train participants and access funding.

A key feature of the programme is its 80:20 training structure, where 80% of the content is dedicated to hands-on practical work, while 20% focuses on theoretical classroom learning. This design aims to ensure that trainees develop job-ready technical competencies that can translate directly into employment or entrepreneurship opportunities.

Interest in the programme has been strong from the outset. Within one week of the TVET portal going live, the Ministry received over 90,000 applications from potential learners. The entrance examination conducted in June showed a surge in participation, with candidate numbers rising from 7,547 in 2024 to 30,000 in 2025, representing an increase of nearly 300%.

As the rollout expanded, the Ministry introduced an artisan-led mentorship model across 38 upgraded technical colleges. Under this framework, experienced craftsmen, technicians, and industry practitioners guide trainees, ensuring that classroom learning is grounded in real-world industry practice. The mentorship approach is expected to deepen the quality of instruction while preserving traditional technical knowledge.

The first phase of disbursements signals the government’s intention to position TVET as a core pillar of human capital development, supporting a stronger workforce that can contribute to national development goals.

Nigeria’s persistent education challenges and the continuing appeal of overseas study have driven a massive outflow of foreign exchange in 2025. New data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) shows that Nigerians spent $1.39 billion (approximately N2.16 trillion) on foreign education in the first half of 2025 alone. This represents a substantial increase compared to the same period in 2024, amounting to a 20% rise in dollar terms and a 38% surge in naira terms, based on the prevailing exchange rate of N1,553.6/$ during the six-month period.

The figures, captured in the CBN’s Balance of Payments report, reinforce the accelerating trend of educational migration—a phenomenon largely driven by citizens’ desire for more stable academic environments and improved long-term prospects abroad. Meanwhile, the report highlights a striking deficit: Nigeria recorded zero inflows from foreign students under the “Education” segment of the services trade balance. This indicates that while billions are leaving the country to train Nigerian students abroad, the nation attracts virtually no foreign students in return, underscoring the limited global competitiveness of its own higher education system.

Education Exodus Deepens Amid Domestic System Weaknesses

The $1.39 billion spent between January and June 2025 is the highest first-half foreign education outflow since 2021, despite the sharp depreciation of the naira following the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms of mid-2023. Even though the naira remained relatively more stable in 2025 than in the turbulent 2024 period, demand for foreign academic placements has not slowed.

This resilience in demand speaks to deeper systemic issues. Nigerian tertiary institutions continue to suffer from declining quality of instruction, recurrent industrial actions by university unions, infrastructure breakdown, insufficient research funding, and congested classrooms. For many families—particularly middle and upper-income earners—studying abroad is no longer seen solely as an educational decision but a strategic migration pathway offering improved economic and social mobility.

Foreign Education Spending Surpasses Public Investment

Between 2020 and the first half of 2025, Nigerians collectively spent an estimated $11.1 billion (N9.9 trillion) on foreign education. Remarkably, this figure accounts for about 2.6% of Nigeria’s annual nominal GDP, and in several of those years, the private outflow exceeded the combined education budgets of the federal and state governments.

For instance, the Federal Government allocated N2.52 trillion to education in the 2025 national budget, representing a modest 5% of total spending. This falls significantly short of the UNESCO benchmark, which recommends that nations dedicate 15–20% of public expenditure to the education sector. In stark contrast, Nigerian households independently spent N2.16 trillion on foreign education in the first six months of the year—nearly equal to the government’s full-year allocation.

Despite this massive private investment overseas, Nigeria’s education sector continues to attract negligible external funding. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that capital importation into the sector totaled only $150,000 over the past decade, signaling minimal foreign investor confidence. Banks are also scaling back their exposure: CBN data shows domestic credit to the education sector fell to N69.7 billion as of September 2025, a 22% year-to-date decline.

Future Outlook: Restrictions Abroad May Slow the Trend

Although foreign education spending remains exceptionally high, emerging policy changes in major destination countries may temper demand. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and several European countries have introduced tighter immigration rules and more restrictive student visa requirements. Recent reports also indicate an increase in visa rejections from U.S. consular offices, which may reduce outbound student flows in the coming months.

Additionally, global inflation and rising tuition costs—combined with Nigeria’s currency pressures—are expected to create further constraints. As living expenses increase abroad and as foreign exchange becomes more difficult to access domestically, analysts anticipate a gradual cooling in offshore education spending, even though underlying demand remains strong.

The Malala Fund has announced a fresh injection of $1.7 million to support nine Nigerian organisations dedicated to tackling the country’s persistent challenge of out-of-school girls. The new allocation, confirmed on the fund’s official website and in a statement issued in Abuja by Nankwat Mbi, the Communications Manager for Nigeria, aims to accelerate interventions in some of the most underserved communities.

This funding forms part of a broader $4.8 million investment distributed across 21 organisations in Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tanzania. The intervention aligns with the Malala Fund’s 2025–2030 global strategy, which prioritises regions where structural barriers such as conflict, poverty, gender discrimination, and systemic underfunding continue to keep millions of girls out of the classroom.

According to the fund, the latest grants were deliberately channelled to countries with the highest concentration of out-of-school girls. Notably, Nigeria and Pakistan alone account for 15% of all out-of-school girls globally, underscoring the scale of the crisis and the urgent need for targeted, community-driven solutions.

A major highlight of this funding round is the commitment to empowering young women-led organisations: 66% of the grants will go to groups led by young women—more than triple the fund’s initial target under its new strategy. The Malala Fund emphasised that investing in young women at the forefront of education activism remains central to driving sustainable change.

Nigerian Organisations Selected for the Grant

The nine Nigerian organisations benefiting from the $1.7 million allocation include:

• Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative

• Anti-Sexual Violence Lead Support Initiative

• Black Girls’ Dream Initiative

• BudgiT Foundation

• Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative

• Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative

• Participatory Communication for Gender Development Initiative

• Teenage Education and Empowerment Network

• Women, Children, Youth Health and Education Initiative

These partners will focus on advancing gender-responsive budgeting, increasing transparency within the education sector, improving citizen oversight, and expanding school access for marginalised groups. Their work will include supporting re-entry for pregnant and married girls, strengthening safe-school programs, and deploying digital tools to monitor education budgets and identify infrastructure gaps.

A Focus on Vulnerable Girls and Young Mothers

Co-founder Malala Yousafzai expressed pride in the direction of the new strategy, especially its prioritisation of local, women-led advocacy. She reiterated that the funding aims to empower organisations working with girls who face heightened vulnerabilities—such as married girls and young mothers—helping them return to school and complete secondary education despite significant social and economic barriers.

Yousafzai stressed that the work of the Malala Fund’s Education Champion Network remains crucial in influencing national policy, combating harmful practices like child marriage, and addressing systemic inequalities that disproportionately affect girls in low-income communities. The new partners, she said, will continue to confront issues ranging from conflict and discrimination to shrinking public education budgets.

Strengthening Community-Based Solutions

Lena Alfi, Chief Executive Officer of the Malala Fund, reinforced the organisation’s belief in investing in groups with first-hand understanding of the challenges girls face at the grassroots level. She noted that the most impactful solutions often come from activists and community leaders who live and work in the affected environments.

Alfi added that the fund prioritises flexible, multi-year grants, allowing partners to allocate resources based on evolving needs. These may include policy advocacy, re-entry support for young mothers, transparency initiatives, safe-school campaigns, and programs aimed at removing hidden costs—such as uniforms, books, and transportation—that often prevent girls from remaining in school.

With Nigeria continuing to grapple with economic pressures, insecurity, and infrastructural deficits, the Malala Fund’s new investment arrives at a critical moment. The initiative aims not only to increase school enrollment but also to strengthen long-term systems that protect girls’ right to learn and thrive.