Headlines
400 schools in Kano North have one teacher each – Official
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
No fewer than 400 Schools in Kano North have only one teacher each teaching all subjects, KANO FOCUS has learned.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Commissioner of education Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa revealed this during a meeting with staff of five agencies under the ministry, held at Rumfa Collage, Kano.
The former governor of Kano State Dr Abdullahi Ganduje is from Kano North Senatorial District.
“It is very sad to note that just in Kano North, are over 400 Schools with only one teacher per School” he lamented.
The commissioner revealed that Kano State Government has set aside 49% of it’s 2023 budget allocation on education as part of it’s commitment to revatilize the sector.
Doguwa maintained that the present administration under the able leadership of Abba Kabir Yusuf attached priority attention to the education sector in view of it’s position as backbone of human development.
The Commissioner explained that, the administration had paid over 1.3 billion Naira for the settlement of 57,000 Students who sat for the NECO, WEAC and NBAIS examinations.
Doguwa said Governor Yusuf is fully aware about the total collapse of the education sector which he associated with lack of concern and commitment by the previous government.
He explained that from the investigation made so far, there are over four million students across the state sitting on bare floor, while some schools are having only one teacher, a situation he described as pathetic.
According to the Commissioner, the state is taking serious measures to bring all the possible changes in both the primary and secondary education system of the state.
“As part of this measure, we noticed that most of our Zonal Offices are filled up with competent staff who are supposed to teach in the classroom but are there doing nothing. As from now, no Zonal office under any agency should get more than 22 staff while the rest must be reposted to classrooms based on merit and profession.
On the issue of Principal Directorship, the Commissioner said the ministry is going to pass a circular that bans using Principal Director, stressing that ” You either be a Principal or Director because the position of Principal is equally very important ”
He however reaffirmed government’s commitment to sanitize private schools operation in the state, pointing out that the administration would no longer allow posting of public schools teacher to private school and any officer found wanting should be furnished accordingly.
“We are changing the entire registration system of private schools to be online. So from now on, no person shall use his personal account to register any private school and doing that violets our rules and regulations ” disclosed Doguwa.
He said the ministry would provide new improved timebook which indicates ‘time in and time out’ to ensure punctuality among the teaching and non teaching staff.
“In every class, a sign sheet will be provided for a teacher to sign at the end of every lesson and that sheet will be collected monthly and send to the ministry for checking ” he announced.
The Commissioner assured the staff of the government commitment to improve their working condition, urging them to make use of their vast experiences in ensuring that the education sector achieves greater success.
Speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on vocational and education Alhaji Habib Hassan El-Yakub implored wealthy individuals in the state to complement the effort of the present administration of improving the the education sector.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of education Hajiya Kubra Imam explained that the meeting was organized to discuss on several issues regarding the state education sector and how to improve the system.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary Kano State Senior Secondary Schools Management Board Dr Kabiru Ado Zakirai urged the staff to join hands together in actualizing the new policies and programmes introduced by the present administration to revatilize the sector.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Executive Council, chaired by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a comprehensive package of developmental projects and interventions valued at over ₦69 billion, targeting critical sectors including infrastructure, education, healthcare, energy, and humanitarian support.
KANO FOCUS reports that this was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Thursday.
During its 29th meeting held on Wednesday, July 9th 2025, the Council granted landmark approvals aimed at improving service delivery and raising the living standard of citizens.
Among the biggest investments is the expansion of Katsina Road, covering the stretch from Baban Gwari Roundabout to Mil Tara, which includes the construction of five reinforced concrete pedestrian bridges at a cost of ₦24.7 billion.
Additionally, the Council approved the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of RMK Flyover, IBB Road, Kofar Mazugal Junction, and Katsina Road with a budget of ₦7.8 billion, and the construction of 10 new concrete pedestrian bridges at strategic locations, valued at ₦3.8 billion.
In the education sector, approvals include the renovation of 13 closed boarding schools earlier shut down by the previous administration at ₦3 billion.
The Council also approved general renovation of dilapidated structures in Government Technical College Dambatta, Government Technical College Ungogo, Government Girls Secondary School Balan Tsanyawa, and Government Secondary School Guringawa, totaling over ₦1.2 billion.
Other approvals include the establishment of a new primary school in Gishiri-Wuya community, Warawa LGA, at ₦190 million, renovation of the French and Chinese Bilingual Colleges in Kwankwaso at ₦158 million and ₦349 million, respectively, the conduct of 2025 internal examinations (BECE/BEICE & SSQE/SAISQE) at ₦300 million, and the settlement of outstanding boarding school feeding liabilities for three weeks at ₦718 million.
The health sector interventions approved by the Council include counterpart funding of ₦180 million for the Free Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health programme, ₦240 million for the procurement of a brand-new Toyota Coaster bus for the School of Health Technology, Bebeji, ₦107 million for operational needs of the Kano Ultra-Modern Specialist Hospital (KUSH), and ₦344 million as counterpart funding for routine immunization for the second quarter of 2025.
The Governor, during the session, reiterated his administration’s resolve to turn Kano into a hub of modern infrastructure, inclusive development, and educational excellence.
The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project has increased the annual Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) from N20,000 to N60,000 per beneficiary as part of renewed efforts to enhance girls’ education in Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that this was revealed during a sensitization campaign on the CCT program held in Gwarmai town, Bebeji Local Government Area.
Speaking at the event, the National CCT Coordinator of the AGILE project, Dr. Kubrah Muhammad, emphasised the importance of utilising the funds effectively to support and improve girls’ access to quality education.
Dr. Kubrah Muhammad,
Dr Muhammad urged parents, students, and other stakeholders to spread the message and ensure the sensitisation efforts are cascaded across communities for wider impact.
Also speaking, the Kano State AGILE CCT Component Lead, Malam Naziru Surajo, disclosed that a total of 45,850 students have so far been enrolled under the initiative in the state.
He noted that Bebeji LGA is one of the 19 participating local governments in Kano, with 4,984 girls currently benefiting from the program.
Malam Surajo highlighted that since the introduction of the CCT, girls’ school enrollment has seen significant improvement, rising by 31% overall, with 35% at the junior secondary level and 27% at the senior secondary level.
Malam Naziru Surajo
He further explained that the cash transfer comes with key conditions, including maintaining a minimum of 70% school attendance, which must be sustained for continued eligibility.
The District Head of Bebeji, who doubles as ‘Yan Dakan Kano, Alhaji Sarki Yusuf Bayero, emphasized the need for men to fulfill their responsibilities effectively, particularly in the context of supporting girls’ education.
He reiterated that the funds are meant for the students’ educational welfare, but should be managed wisely by parents.
Alhaji Sarki Yusuf Bayero (Yan Dakan Kano)
He cautioned that the CCT should not become a source of conflict within families, stressing that either parent can responsibly utilize the funds, provided they are used for the intended purpose of promoting education
“The most important thing is for parents to inculcate good moral values on their children to make them useful to society.”
Some parents of beneficiaries, Malam Abdu Gwarmai and Haulatu Musa, asked questions related to the CCT.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The AGILE Project is a World Bank-assisted initiative implemented through Federal and State Ministries of Education, aimed at improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls in Nigeria.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim ANIPR,
Communication Officer,
AGILE Project, Kano.
Headlines
Gov Yusuf Clears N22 Billion from N48 Billion Backlog of Retirees’ Gratuities and Death Benefits
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
In a determined push to restore dignity to pensioners and families of deceased workers, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has so far settled ₦22 billion out of the inherited ₦48 billion backlog of unpaid retirees’ gratuities and death benefits.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Governor’s bold intervention comes as he approved the fourth tranche of payments, amounting to ₦6 billion, bringing relief to hundreds of retirees and next-of-kin who have awaited their entitlements for years.
Governor Yusuf had earlier disbursed ₦5 billion in the first tranche, followed by ₦6 billion each in the second and third tranches, demonstrating a sustained commitment to offsetting the massive debt left by the previous administration.
A statement from the Government spokesperson Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa described the payments as part of the Governor’s broader agenda to address long-standing liabilities and reposition Kano State as a model of responsible governance.
“Governor Yusuf remains resolute in his pledge to pay every kobo owed to our retirees and the families of our late civil servants,” the statement read.
The settlement of these outstanding gratuities and death benefits not only alleviates the hardship faced by affected families but also reaffirms the administration’s promise to restore trust in government and uphold social justice.
Governor Yusuf further assured that the remaining balance will be cleared in subsequent tranches, ensuring that no pensioner or bereaved family is left behind.
This unprecedented intervention reflects the Governor’s people-centered governance, bringing hope to thousands whose sacrifices built the foundations of Kano State.
Kano Govt approves over ₦69b on transform infrastructure, education
AGILE Project increases girls’ education grant to N60,000 in Kano
Gov Yusuf Clears N22 Billion from N48 Billion Backlog of Retirees’ Gratuities and Death Benefits
Kano Governor Appoints New Chief of Staff, DG Special Services
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