*Pete Vowles, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, at the close-out of Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria, describes the education as a partnership built on a shared commitment to ensuring that more children go to school, stay in school and, most importantly, learn
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
The United Kingdom (UK), alongside Federal and state government partners, education stakeholders, teachers and development partners, has marked the close-out of the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), celebrating the programme’s contribution to improving learning outcomes and strengthening education systems across Northern Nigeria.
The UK funded the programme being implemented by DAI, UNICEF, Save the Children, and consortium partners.
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Speaking at the event in Kaduna, Pete Vowles, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, described PLANE as a partnership built on a shared commitment to ensuring that more children go to school, stay in school and, most importantly, learn.
Onyinye Madu of the British High Commission Communications Office, Abuja, FCT, in a statement, disclosed that over the course of the programme, PLANE directly reached over two million girls and boys, and supported the training of over 25,000 teachers and facilitators.
The programme also helped to strengthen policies, systems and institutions across partner states and at the Federal level in Nigeria.
The statement noted the event attracted Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, representing Governor (Senator) Uba Sani of Kaduna State, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, education leaders, teachers, development partners and community representatives, to reflect on lessons learned and explore how successful reforms can be sustained and scaled.
The programme has supported improvements in foundational literacy and numeracy, strengthened safeguarding systems to help make schools safer for children, and generated evidence that demonstrates learning outcomes can improve when effective approaches are implemented at scale.
UK Education Partnership Continues
While PLANE is concluding, the United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to supporting education and human capital development in Nigeria, the statement also noted.
As part of the visit, UK representatives also visited the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna, where partnerships between Nigerian institutions and UK universities are helping equip students with advanced technical and professional skills.
These partnerships form part of the UK’s broader transnational education agenda, which connects Nigerian and UK institutions to strengthen learning, research and skills development.
Pete Vowles, British High Commissioner to Nigeria remarked: “PLANE has demonstrated the power of partnership between governments, teachers, communities and development partners.
“While we are celebrating the achievements of the programme today, the most important question is what happens next.”
Vowles stated: “We are encouraged to see successful approaches being adopted and scaled by Nigerian institutions, ensuring that improvements in learning continue long after the programme ends.
PLANE is closing.
“The UK’s education partnership with Nigeria is not.”
Governor (Senator) Sani of Kaduna State also said: “I sincerely thank the government and people of the United Kingdom, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the British High Commission, and the and the entire PLANE leadership and implementation team, past and present.
“You worked in our offices, in our local government areas, and in some of our most remote communities.”
He also said: “Often under difficult conditions. You respected the leadership of our state and shared your expertise freely.
“You helped build skills over these past 7 years. And this will remain with our teachers and officials long after today.”
Cynthia Rowe, Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission (BHC) in Nigeria said: “Education is one of the most important investments any country can make in its future.
“The achievements of PLANE show what is possible when evidence, innovation and partnership come together around a shared goal.”
The British envoy stated: “As the programme closes, we look forward to building on these successes through continued collaboration with government, schools, universities and communities across Nigeria.
“From foundational learning in primary schools to higher education and advanced skills development, the UK remains committed to supporting opportunities for Nigeria’s next generation.”
The British Mission in Nigeria said PLANE (Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria) had supported education reforms, and improved learning outcomes across Northern Nigeria.
It noted that since 2019, the programme has supported the Nigerian Government to improve learning outcomes for all children, working with policy makers and education stakeholders at the federal level, southwest region and in Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno States.