SOKOTO — May 7, 2025 — The European Union is stepping up its efforts to improve education and empower youth in northern Nigeria through its #GlobalGateway strategy. This initiative targets Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto states, focusing on marginalized communities and out-of-school children.
Launched in partnership with UNICEF and Plan International, the programme aims to enhance access to quality education and vocational skills. One of its key goals is to integrate Qur’anic education with primary school curricula, supported by local authorities in Sokoto State. This initiative encourages parents to see the value of formal education for their children and motivates them to pursue it within the state’s educational system.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, along with ambassadors from eight EU member states, visited two educational facilities in Sokoto State today. The first stop was the Integrated Qur’anic School at Makarantar Malam Umaru Kabawa in Yabo Local Government Area. Later, the ambassadors visited Makarantar Malam Yusuf Gidan, a nomadic education centre that provides accelerated education to over 700 nomadic children, both boys and girls. These children are part of an effort to bridge the educational gap and prepare them for secondary school.
The EU’s involvement extends beyond infrastructure; the initiative also includes teacher training and the provision of essential learning materials to remote regions. The goal is to ensure that children in the most isolated areas of Sokoto can access the education they need to thrive and contribute to sustainable development.
