By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria and Italy have agreed to establish a joint working group to drive preparations for the upcoming Global Partnership for Education financing campaign aimed at mobilising $5 billion to support education worldwide.
The initiative, known as the “Multiply Possibility Campaign”, is expected to focus on improving learning opportunities for about 750 million children globally, with the process culminating in a major education summit scheduled to hold in Rome, Italy, in September 2026. 
The development emerged during a meeting in Abuja between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Roberto Mengoni.
Speaking during the meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said education remains one of the central priorities of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially given Nigeria’s large youth population.
According to her, strengthening educational opportunities would not only equip young people with skills and employment prospects but also help tackle migration pressures.
“We are interested in what we can do to keep our youth within our shores in productive ways,” the minister stated.
She also called for continued dialogue between both countries on migration and broader development issues, while stressing the need for stronger cooperation in areas such as green investment and support for vulnerable communities.
Earlier, Ambassador Mengoni explained that the discussions were important because Nigeria and Italy currently serve as co-chairs of the Global Partnership for Education initiative and needed to align on plans for the summit.
Beyond education, both countries also explored areas of collaboration in tourism, economic relations and defence cooperation as part of efforts to deepen bilateral ties.
