UK-Funded PLANE Programme Concludes, Impact on Education

The PLANE programme, funded by the UK, reached over 2 million children and concluded on October 29, 2026, in Kaduna. At the close-out event, education stakeholders, including British High Commissioner Pete Vowles, called on state governments to sustain the programme's achievements.

Vowles noted the value of collaboration among governments, teachers, communities, and development partners, stating that while PLANE is ending, the UK's education partnership with Nigeria will continue. Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, represented by the deputy governor, emphasized the responsibility of state governments to maintain progress, highlighting an increase in basic school enrolment from 2.17 million in 2022 to over 2.57 million in 2025.

He reported that the number of out-of-school children in Kaduna decreased from an estimated 535,000 to 187,719. Sani allocated 25 percent of the state's N985.9 billion 2026 budget to education, stressing its importance for development and security.

Dr Folake Olatunji-David from the Federal Ministry of Education underscored the need for partnerships and reliable data to improve educational access and outcomes.