Buhari due in London today for education summit and medical check-up with his doctors

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is due to arrive in London later this evening to participate in a global education summit on financing called Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and to touch base with his medical doctors.

In what will be a working visit as well as a medical check-up, the president will participate in the summit co-hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom, and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. According to President Buhari's spokesman Femi Adesina, the summit is expected to bring together heads of states and governments, as well as stakeholders and youth leaders.

Aimed at improving standards, the summit will provide a platform for partners to chart a way forward towards transforming education systems in partner countries, through the exchange of best practices. Mr Adesina said the meeting would offer the opportunity for leaders to make five year pledges to support GPE’s work to help transform education systems in up to 90 countries and territories.

Mr Adesina added: “Deliberations at the summit will focus on the power of education, it will involve a conversation between global champions and will discuss transforming education for girls. It will also involve financing for impact and recovery and will debate priorities for transforming education in the coming five years, among others.

“President Buhari will also hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson. After the Summit, the president will spend a few days for an earlier scheduled medical check-up and  is due back by second week of August, 2021.

“The president will be accompanied by the minister of foreign affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, the minister of state for education Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, the national security adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno and the director-general of the National Intelligence Agency Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar."