The European Union (EU) has unveiled a €40 million program as part of the Global Gateway initiative that is aimed to bolster education and empower young people in the Northwest region of Nigeria. In a step towards addressing the educational challenges in the area, the EU has committed €5.4 million to enhance the capacities of teachers.
The central objective of this intervention is to reduce the number of out-of-school children by improving access to quality education and fostering youth empowerment. These funds, dedicated to teacher training, are vital for ensuring that educators have the advanced skills required to nurture students who can effectively tackle the myriad challenges faced by Nigeria and the continent.The announcement came during the launch of the €40 million initiative in Abuja, as revealed by Jutta Urpilainen, the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships. While highlighting the critical role of teachers in the education system, Urpilainen emphasized the need to invest in their training.
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“We have to remember that there is no education without teachers and that’s why we also have to invest in teacher training,” she noted.Furthermore, the program’s third objective is to empower youth by providing vocational education and implementing behavioral change campaigns aimed at challenging detrimental social norms and empowering girls.
The European Union aims to equip Nigerian youth with vocational skills, enabling them to succeed in the competitive job market. Recognizing Nigeria’s status as an economic powerhouse, the most populous country in Africa, and a strategic partner in the West African region, Urpilainen stressed the transformative potential of the education sector.Education, in her view, can reshape the destiny of a nation. A fundamental part of the program’s mission is to reintegrate out-of-school children, with a special focus on girls, into the educational system.
This will ensure that quality education is accessible to all and contribute to the empowerment of the youth.The EU’s commitment to investing in education and teachers stands as a crucial step towards improving educational outcomes and addressing the needs of out-of-school children in Nigeria. The initiative is seen as a vital component of the broader efforts to empower the nation’s youth and secure a brighter future.
