PRESS RELEASE

19th SEPTEMBER, 2024

LAGOS, NIGERIA

UK GOVT LAUNCHES PLANE EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

The UK Government, represented by the British High Commission has officially flagged off the commencement of the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme in southwest Nigeria. The High Commission launched the programme in Lagos State on Thursday, 19 September in collaboration with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and the SEED Care and Support Foundation.

PLANE is a seven-year education programme funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The programme commenced in Nigeria in 2021 working in some northern states and at the federal level, with a mission to improve learning outcomes in Nigeria at the basic education level. To further expand its reach nationally, PLANE is making inroads to the southwestern part of the country, by engaging closely with DAWN Commission, the dedicated technocratic institution for the sustainable development of the region.

According to Ian Attfield, British High Commission’s Senior Education Adviser, PLANE’s engagement in the region will focus extensively on engaging affordable private community schools, that provide access to education for low-income households and marginalised children. He also added that the programme will work with Lagos State as a model of good practice, in partnership with the State’s Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (LSMBSE), with whom the UK Government has previously collaborated on Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN) and Developing Effective Private Education in Nigeria (DEEPEN).

Speaking during the launch, the Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter, said:

“The expansion of PLANE’s footprint to southwest Nigeria is an opportunity to enhance quality and affordable basic education, by improving the regulation and oversight of low-cost private schools, under the leadership of State Governments.

Education is a top international development priority for the UK Government. We remain steadfast in our partnership with Nigeria and committed to empowering future generations through education.”

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos State, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, while receiving the team in his office on the morning of the launch, expressed the readiness of the state to support the programme. In his goodwill remark, he said:

“Lagos remains a model for other states in Nigeria, and we are ready to improve our strategy to remain the best in Nigeria. We look forward to collaborating with you on this project as well as exploring other future ways to strengthen our partnerships”.

The commissioner was represented at the launch by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abayomi Abolaji.

The Director General, DAWN Commission, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, who was represented at the event by Abiodun Oladipo, the Head of Programmes said:

“The Commission considers education as sine-qua-non to the socio-economic development of Southwest region and are therefore, always seeking partnership and collaboration with any interested stakeholder to improve education outcomes in the Region and Nigeria as a whole. Thus, PLANE is assured of our unflinching commitment to the attainment of the programme’s objectives.”

Note to Editors:

• The Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) is a seven-year programme funded by the UK Government to enable a more inclusive, safe and effective education system in Nigeria. It realises the Government of Nigeria and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)’s shared commitment to deliver sustainable improvements in learning outcomes for Nigeria’s children. The PLANE programme works with federal and state leaders, legislators, education providers, civil society, children and parents federally and in Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Borno, Yobe, the south-east and the south-west.
• PLANE scope extends across three strategic windows of intervention, namely foundational skills development (led by DAI, FHI360 and other partners), education in emergency (led by UNICEF), and community-centred initiatives (led by Save the Children). It is supported by the DELVe evidence, learning and accountability function.

For more information, please contact:  Bukola Bayo-Philip, Manager, Knowledge Management and Communications, PLANE, Bukola_bayo-philip@planenigeria.com. You can also visit www.planenigeria.com and follow us on LinkedIn @FCDO-PLANE Nigeria, Facebook @FCDO PLANE Nigeria and on X (Formerly Twitter) @PLANE_Nigeria.