Lagos unveils Education Access Fund to improve learning quality outcomes
By Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor The Lagos State Government has launched the Lagos Education Access Fund (LEAF), a strategic initiative aimed at expanding access to quality basic education and improving
- Govt to expand opportunities for children
By Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor
The Lagos State Government has launched the Lagos Education Access Fund (LEAF), a strategic initiative aimed at expanding access to quality basic education and improving learning outcomes for children across the state.
The programme was unveiled by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, at a high-level event held at Lagos House, Marina, last Friday, in the presence of government officials, development partners, education stakeholders and representatives of the international community.
The initiative is being implemented through the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) in partnership with the Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) and other development partners as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen inclusive and equitable basic education in Lagos State.
In his keynote address, Sanwo-Olu reiterated the state government’s commitment to ensuring that every child in Lagos has access to free and quality basic education, describing education as a critical driver of social mobility, human capital development and economic growth.
He disclosed that the initiative is supported by a $25 million outcomes-based education fund designed to support 200,000 children across Lagos communities.
According to the governor, the programme will facilitate the enrolment of up to 50,000 out-of-school children between the ages of six and 14 into formal basic education, while also strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy for 150,000 pupils currently enrolled in public schools across the state.
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Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that the initiative built on the achievements recorded under Project Zero, launched in 2021 to identify and re-integrate out-of-school children into the education system. Through the intervention, over 36,000 children have already been returned to classrooms across the state.
He added that the programme aligned with the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Development Agenda of the Lagos State Government, particularly the pillar on Education and Technology, which focuses on strengthening human capital development and building a knowledge-driven society.
He further highlighted the importance of community participation in sustaining educational development, revealing that over 360 parents and guardians have been trained in vocational and livelihood skills such as fashion designing, catering, soap making and hairdressing to enable them better support the educational progress of their children.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also appreciated development partners, including the Education Outcomes Fund, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for their support in advancing education outcomes in Lagos State.
He also commended the leadership and management of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board for their dedication and professionalism in advancing basic education reforms in our State.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, described the Lagos Education Access Fund as a transformational initiative that will significantly strengthen the State’s education ecosystem and accelerate access to quality learning opportunities for children.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the Education Outcomes Fund, Dr.. Amel Karboul, explained that the initiative is designed to improve learning outcomes through an innovative results-based financing model.
According to her, the programme focuses on funding measurable education outcomes such as enrolment, retention and completion of schooling for both out-of-school children and those already within the education system. She noted that the innovation of the initiative lies in the shift from traditional funding methods that pay for inputs like textbooks or teachers’ salaries, to a model that pays for verified results.
She added that the programme will leverage data-driven technology and monitoring systems to ensure that children are enrolled in school, remain in school and are effectively learning.
In her remarks, Ms. Eunice Ogolo, Director at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), announced the Foundation’s $10 million support for the programme, emphasising the urgent need to address the challenge of children who remain outside the school system.
She noted that when children are not in school or are not learning effectively, their future potential becomes limited. While commending the leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu for prioritizing results-based interventions to improve learning outcomes, she reaffirmed CIFF’s commitment as an anchor funder to supporting the vision of a Lagos where every child masters literacy and numeracy and has the opportunity to thrive.
