Kano State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have partnered to improve access to quality education in the state.

Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf, in his remarks at the event held on Monday at the Government House, Kano, commended UNICEF and other development partners for their continued support to the state’s education sector.

He noted that their contributions were instrumental to improving the future of children in the state.

Speaking at the event, Mr Michael Banda, Officer-in-Charge, UNICEF Field Office in Kano, described education as a fundamental right that should be accessible to all.

Banda, who handed over learning and instructional materials to the state government, said the items symbolised hope and a brighter future for children in Kano.

“The books, computers, and electronic gadgets represent more than just tools; they symbolise opportunity and a brighter future for all children in Kano State,” he said.

He urged teachers to use the materials to promote creativity, critical thinking, and a love for learning among pupils.

Banda also encouraged pupils to make good use of the items to better their future and appealed to the state government to prioritise regular replenishment of learning materials.

“Books and electronic gadgets are perishables and require deliberate planning for periodic replenishment,” he said.

“Every year, we must be deliberate in our planning, budgeting, and procurement so we don’t fall behind and compromise the quality of learning outcomes,” he added.

The UNICEF-Kano Government partnership aims to promote inclusive education and improve learning outcomes across the state.

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Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has unveiled a N15 billion five-year development plan for the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTech), Wudil, a Kano State-owned institution.

Dangote made the announcement during the 5th combined convocation ceremony of the university in Kano, stating that the plan would be executed through the Dangote Foundation.

He said the plan would cover several projects, including the design and construction of male and female hostels, a world-class multipurpose computer laboratory with 24-hour internet service, and a mini solar power plant to provide constant electricity to the university.

Also included are the construction of a befitting Senate building and a post-NYSC enrolment programme for the best engineering students.

Dangote pledged to offer employment opportunities to outstanding engineering graduates of the university in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Cement.

“Majority of you who have performed excellently, I will also guarantee employment. The execution of this development plan will be carried out in close partnership with the Governing Council, with a proper project management structure to ensure execution on budget and schedule,” he said.

He added that he would brief Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, twice a year on the progress of the projects to ensure proper implementation.

Dangote, who was also invested as the Chancellor of the university, promised to support the institution to become one of the top three universities in Nigeria.

He urged wealthy individuals to support government efforts in addressing the issue of out-of-school children.

“Government cannot do it alone. The public must contribute to the development of our country,” he said.

He commended Governor Yusuf for declaring a state of emergency in the education sector and prioritising the enrolment of out-of-school children.

Meanwhile, Governor Yusuf, who is the Visitor to the university, announced the approval of road and drainage projects within the institution and reaffirmed his administration’s continued support.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Musa Yakasai, disclosed that the governor had approved N2.1 billion to settle the university’s outstanding liabilities.

He also revealed that Dangote had paid electricity bills amounting to millions.

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Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment(AGILE) has trained 2,234 facilitators and 60 mentors in life skills and digital literacy in Kano.

Ahmed Jibril, deputy project coordinator, AGILE, stated this during an interactive session with media on Tuesday in Kano.

“AGILE is providing essential life skills and digital literacy training to thousands of girls across the state.

“To date, 60 mentors and 2,234 facilitators have been trained in life skills, benefiting over 148,000 female students across 44 LGAs in Kano.

“The program has also equipped 100 schools with solar facilities, computers, internet access, projectors, tables, and chairs,” he added.

According to him, 220 teachers have been trained in remote learning, enabling students to access lessons online.

He noted that the program spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Education and supported by the World Bank, was making significant strides in improving girls’ access to secondary education in Kano State.

Jibril stated that the initiative was part of a nationwide effort implemented across 18 states, targets socio-cultural, financial, and infrastructural barriers that hinder the education of girls in Nigeria.

He announced that a total of 130 new secondary schools would be constructed across 24 targeted local government areas in Kano State.

Jibril stated that the AGILE Project provides second-chance opportunities for out-of-school girls and dropouts unable to study in conventional schools.

He revealed that 5,100 out-of-school girls from 13 LGAs have registered to be enrolled in adult education centers for second-chance education.

“So far, about 74,452 girls have benefited from the financial assistance of the AGILE Project across 19 LGAs in the 1st and 2nd cohorts. An additional 39,000 girls have been registered in the 3rd cohort,” he explained.

He then called on the media to take a leading role in promoting girls’ education in Kano State.

Earlier, a Media consultant , Maude Gwadabe stressed the need for grassroots enlightenment to ensure that communities understand the significance of educating girls and the positive impact it has on societal development.

He emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the value of educating girls, urging the media to help drive this critical initiative.

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