The World Bank has approved $611 million credit facility to support Nigeria in reducing the rate of out-of-school children, especially in the north.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, the Head of Communications, World Bank, Nigeria, Funke Olufon, explained that the bank also approved a $350 million credit for the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Programme, which aims to enhance private sector investment in the state. This brings the total investment to $961 million.

According to her, the move was to assist the federal and state authorities in their struggle to encourage inclusion and revive growth, in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

“The $611 million to Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) Programme aims to bring out-of-school children into the classroom, improve literacy, and strengthen accountability for results in basic education. In 2013, 13.2 million school-age children were out of school; the overwhelming majority of which is in the North where out-of-school children rates are also higher among girls, in rural areas and from poor families. The Kaduna State operation will support the state’s ambitious reform efforts to increase both private investments for job creation and revenue generation. It will also strengthen budget performance and fiscal accountability through citizen engagement,” she said.

Anita Fatunji