Lagos launches $25m Education Fund, unveils measure to curb out-of-school children

By Aderonke Ojediran

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has announced plans to issue an executive order to prohibit school-age children from roaming the streets during school hours, and launch a 25 million dollars outcomes-based education fund.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed this while speaking at the launch of the Lagos Education Access Fund (LEAF) and inauguration of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) on Friday.

The governor stated that the executive order would strengthen measures against out-of-school children and increase accountability among parents, communities, and institutions tasked with ensuring every school-age child attends school regularly.

“I will be issuing an executive order to back this up and ensure that we are putting our money where our mouth is.

“No child should be seen outside between 8.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. unless there is a very good reason that child is not in school,” he said.

He said that LEAF represents a strategic shift from just boosting enrolment statistics to focusing on actual learning outcomes, emphasising that access to school must translate into improved literacy, numeracy and retention.

According to him, Lagos, through partnership with the Education Outcome Fund (EOF) and development partners, will deploy 25 million dollars in outcomes-based financing to support over 200,000 children statewide.

He said the programme would target over 50,000 out-of-school children aged six to 14 for enrolment into mainstream education through structured community outreach and interventions removing barriers to attendance.

Sanwo-Olu said that the initiative would also support 150,000 pupils already in school by strengthening literacy and numeracy outcomes, ensuring classroom presence translates into actual learning and long-term success.

“This initiative is not just about funding education; it is about ensuring every investment translates into real learning, real opportunity and measurable outcomes for our children,” the governor said.

He said LEAF builds on Project Zero, an intervention launched in 2021 to address out-of-school children, which has already returned over 36,000 children into formal education statewide.

“One of our most impactful initiatives in the last 10 years has been Project Zero, through which Lagos has identified, tracked and enrolled more than 36,000 children,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu said beyond returning children to school, the state had supported over 360 parents and guardians with vocational training to improve livelihoods and strengthen their capacity to sustain education.

He said that beneficiaries were trained in fashion designing, soap making, catering and hairdressing, reflecting government’s recognition that family economic stability remains critical to school retention and consistent attendance.

The governor said his administration had also expanded education infrastructure aggressively, building more schools and classrooms in the last seven years than were delivered in the previous two decades.

“We have built more schools and classrooms in the last seven years than were built in the previous 20 years,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He highlighted his administration’s education infrastructure expansion.

“In one school complex alone, we are handing over 35 schools with capacity for close to 20,000 students,” he said.

He further described it as evidence of sustained investment.

Sanwo-Olu said meaningful progress in education could not be achieved by government alone, stressing that strong partnerships, shared responsibility and collective commitment remain essential to securing children’s futures.

He thanked the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and EOF for supporting Lagos in advancing a bold education reform model.

Earlier, EOF Chief Executive Officer, Dr Amel Karboul, described Lagos as an example of bold leadership, saying the state is embracing an accountability-driven education financing model rarely adopted globally.

Karboul, a former Tunisian minister, said she was personally shaped by her country’s early decision to prioritise education spending, describing investment in education as the strongest national infrastructure.

“The most important infrastructure any nation can build is educated minds,” Karboul said.

She commended Lagos for choosing a model that prioritises learning, dignity, opportunity and measurable results.

She said governments often spent heavily on education inputs such as buildings, books and services, yet failed to secure real outcomes like improved learning, school retention or sustainable employment.

“I have seen so much money spent that does not achieve results.

“Governments can buy goods and services, but for years they could not truly buy outcomes,” she said.

Karboul said EOF was created to change that pattern by enabling governments and partners to pay for results, not merely inputs, through financing tied directly to measurable outcomes.

She said the organisation, initiated with support from former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and impact investing pioneer Sir Ronald Cohen, now works across several African countries, including Nigeria.

According to her, Lagos is not merely launching a programme but building a blueprint that can guide other Nigerian states and countries seeking to reform education financing amid fiscal constraints.

“Lagos is not just launching a programme today; it is creating a blueprint for the world, because the future of public finance is about delivering real impact,” she said.

Karboul said LEAF could become a global reference point for how governments, philanthropies and development institutions collaborate differently by linking funding directly to learning results and child-centred outcomes.

At the event, Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the LASUBEB board, appointing Dr Hakeem Shittu as chairman to oversee implementation and boost accountability in the state’s basic education system.

Other members of the board are Dr Saheed Ibikunle, Mrs Sijuade Idowu-Tiamiyu, Dr Sherifat Adedoyin, Mr Owolabi Falana, Mr Adewale Babatunde, Mr Babatunde Williams and Mr Hakeem Lamidi.

In his acceptance speech, Shittu vowed the board would build on Lagos state’s education gains, expand access, strengthen school governance, and drive outcomes-based reforms for real impact across the state.

“We are deeply honoured by the confidence reposed in us by Mr Governor and the people of Lagos State.

“This board will justify that confidence with dedication, transparency and urgency to ensure every child in Lagos has access to quality basic education and improved learning outcomes,” he said.

He stated that LASUBEB would focus on three key areas: getting vulnerable kids in school, boosting learning outcomes, and ensuring accountability for results from public spending.

“It is not enough for children to sit in classrooms. They must learn. We will support LEAF implementation and ensure education investment produces measurable outcomes,” Shittu said. (NAN)