SEED Care and Support Foundation
A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), SEED Care and Support Foundation, has stepped up efforts to improve funding and quality assurance in Nigeria’s affordable education sector. The foundation recently held the third edition of its Access to Finance Forum in Lagos and a two-day training on education standards in Ibadan, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss sustainable solutions.
The Access to Finance Forum, held on March 18, 2025, in Ikeja, Lagos, focused on bridging the funding gap for low-fee private schools, faith-based institutions, and alternative learning centres.
The event had in attendance representatives from the Office of the Vice President, commercial banks, microfinance institutions, NGOs, and development partners, all exploring innovative financing models.
Speaking at the forum, SEED’s founder and executive director, Olanrewaju Oniyitan, said stakeholders must rethink education financing as an opportunity for innovation rather than a challenge.
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She said, “The funding gap in Nigeria’s education sector presents a massive opportunity for financial institutions to develop tailored solutions that empower affordable non-state schools to provide quality education to marginalised children.”
Participants at the event proposed that state governments establish or review education trust fund frameworks to provide financial support for non-state schools. They also called for the creation of a National Education Bank to ensure sustainable financing.
Following the finance forum, SEED also organised a two-day training on quality assurance in Ibadan on March 20-21. The training, held in partnership with Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, and the Federal Ministry of Education, focused on education policies, school evaluation frameworks, and the role of technology in maintaining quality standards.
Participants were introduced to evaluation tools such as the Graded Assessment of Private Schools (GAPS) and SEED Quality Assessment Tool (SQAT) to improve school monitoring and accountability.
Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, emphasised the importance of standardised education policies, while DAWN Commission’s Director-General, Seye Oyeleye, called for stronger oversight in non-state education. Also speaking, Adegboye Adebola, Director of the Federal Quality Assurance Agency, stressed the need for continuous evaluation, saying, “Quality education is the foundation of a thriving society.”
In her closing remarks, Oniyitan urged state education agencies to Recognise, Include, Support, and Engage (RISE) affordable non-state schools to ensure that every child has access to quality education.
