Headlines
Kano recruits over 16,000 teachers, begins 10-year education reform plan
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has recruited more than 16,000 teachers since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf assumed office, raising the total number of teachers in the state to nearly 60,000 as part of efforts to revitalize the education sector.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Education Reform, Alhaji Haladu Muhammad, disclosed this during the commencement of the development of a 10-year Education Sector Strategic Plan being undertaken by the state government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), and other stakeholders.
Muhammad said the strategic plan is designed to transform the state’s education system and tackle the persistent challenge of out-of-school children.
According to him, the current administration inherited a struggling education sector that required urgent intervention.
“The Governor came into office and found an education system in the intensive care unit. There was a need for serious diagnosis and accurate prescriptions to identify what was wrong and find the best possible solutions,” he said.
Despite the recent recruitment, Muhammad noted that Kano still requires between 82,000 and 85,000 teachers to achieve the recommended teacher-to-pupil ratio of 1:60, assuring that the recruitment exercise would continue.
He added that the state government has consistently allocated more than 30 percent of its annual budget to education over the past three years, underscoring its commitment to restoring the sector.
“The march is on. The government is systematically addressing issues relating to teachers, learning materials, infrastructure, and other critical areas of education,” he stated.
Muhammad explained that the proposed strategic plan would focus on identifying existing challenges, assessing their scale, and developing practical solutions to be implemented over the next decade.
He added that special attention would be given to addressing the out-of-school children crisis through non-formal education programmes aimed at integrating affected children into productive learning pathways.
The initiative will also produce a three-year operational implementation plan to guide execution and provide a roadmap for improving access to quality education, strengthening educational management, and enhancing learning outcomes across Kano State.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Field Office Chief in Kano, Dr. Karanveer Singh, described education as a critical driver of national development and emphasized the need to ensure that every child has access to schooling.
Dr. Karanveer Singh
“The target is every child in school. No child should miss education. If we want the country to develop and become economically productive, education is the key,” Singh said.
He noted that UNICEF is working closely with the Kano State Ministry of Education, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and other stakeholders to improve educational quality through capacity building, provision of teaching and learning materials, and the introduction of global best practices.
Singh stressed that the strategic plan must be practical, scalable, and sustainable, assuring stakeholders that it would not become another policy document left unimplemented.
Also speaking, the Chief Training and Research Fellow at NIEPA, Dr. Lara Ogunsola, said the institute is partnering with UNICEF to develop both the strategic plan and its accompanying three-year implementation framework.
She explained that the team would spend seven days in Kano conducting consultations and technical sessions before continuing engagements online to finalize the document.
According to Ogunsola, the plan is intended to address longstanding challenges in the education sector by identifying priority areas and outlining actionable measures for improvement.
“Part of the solution to the challenges facing the education sector is for states to have functional education sector plans. This document will provide a clear pathway for addressing the problems and improving educational outcomes,” she said.
The development of the strategic plan is expected to provide a long-term framework for educational reforms in Kano, with stakeholders expressing optimism that it will contribute significantly to improving access, quality, and equity in education across the state.
Ibrahim Khalil
The Kano State Police Command has arrested eight suspects in separate operations targeting drug peddling and thuggery in Panshekara and Kunchi/Ghari Local Government Area.
KANO FOCUS reports that the command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.
According to the statement, the operations, conducted on September 9, 2026, were part of the command’s intelligence-driven efforts to tackle drug abuse, thuggery and violent crimes across the state.
It said operatives of the Surveillance Team attached to Panshekara Police Division, acting on credible intelligence at about 2:30 p.m., intercepted eight suspects, including a 21-year-old man identified as Samson Yakubu of Samegu Quarters, at a suspected criminal hotspot.
A search of the suspects reportedly led to the recovery of 15 Pregabalin capsules, five Diazepam tablets, 10 Exol tablets and some quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
The police said the suspects were in custody and undergoing interrogation, while investigations were ongoing to establish the source of the suspected illicit drugs and identify other members of the alleged syndicate.
In a related operation conducted between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. the same day, operatives of the Kunchi/Ghari Division carried out a coordinated market patrol and raid at Matanfada Market.
The command said the area had been identified as a place where youths allegedly intimidate traders and residents during market sessions.
Five suspects were arrested during the operation. They were identified as Abdullahi Isah of Dustin; Haruna Isah of Daqarawa Village; Habu Badamasi of Dan Taimu Village; Gambo Ya’u of Kura Village; and Abubakar Dahiru of Farau Village.
The police said investigation was ongoing to identify and arrest other suspected accomplices, while exhibits recovered during the operation had been taken into custody as evidence.
CP Bakori commended the operatives for what he described as their professionalism and swift response, assuring residents that the command would sustain its operations against drug abuse, thuggery and other violent crimes.
“In line with the IGP’s policing vision and our mandate to ensure a safe and secure Kano, we will continue to be proactive,” the commissioner said.
“We are sending a clear message to criminal elements that Kano State will not be a breeding ground for their activities.”
The command also appreciated members of the public, community leaders and vigilante groups for providing information that aided the operations.
It urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station.
The command said all suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The funeral prayer for the late Shehu Kabir Bayero, Barde Kerarriya of Kano and District Head of Dorayi, was held on Thursday evening at Kofar Kudu, Kano Emir’s Palace.
KANO FOCUS reports that the prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Khamsus Salawati Mosque, Kofar Kudu, Malam Bello, and attended by hundreds of people from different parts of Kano State.
Among those who attended were the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Alhaji Umar Faruk; representative of the Emir of Kano, Matawallen Kano, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Matawalle; Chief of Staff to the Kano State Government House, Dr Sani Wali; as well as district heads and members of the Muslim community.
Shehu Kabir Bayero died in a hospital in Egypt following a period of illness. He is survived by his wives, children and other relatives.
Until his death, the late Bayero served as Commissioner of Police in Gombe and Osun states before retiring from the Nigeria Police Force.
Following his retirement, the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, appointed him as the Barde Kerarriya of Kano and District Head of Takai Local Government Area after the death of his father, the late Kabir Bayero, an elder brother of the former emir.
He later served as District Head of Gwarzo.
Due to his wealth of experience in security matters, the current Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, subsequently reassigned him as District Head of Dorayi, where he was expected to contribute to the sustenance of peace and security in the area.
The late district head was remembered for his service to the state and his experience in security and traditional administration.
May Allah forgive his shortcomings, have mercy on his soul and grant him Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Ministry of Education, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has held a planning meeting on the implementation and effective utilisation of the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the meeting brought together relevant stakeholders from various ministries, agencies and development partners working in the education sector.
According to Malam Naziru Sirajo, deputy director EMIS and statistics in the Ministry of Education, the meeting was aimed at reviewing the current status of the Nigeria Learning Passport in Kano and developing a coordinated plan to strengthen its implementation, content utilisation, course completion, monitoring of learners’ progress and certification.
The Nigeria Learning Passport is a digital learning platform designed to provide Nigerian children and young people with access to curriculum-aligned educational content, including lessons, learning materials and assessments.
The platform is also designed to support learning continuity, including for learners facing limited or intermittent internet connectivity, while providing teachers and education stakeholders with digital resources to complement classroom instruction.
In Kano, the initiative is expected to strengthen awareness and utilisation of digital learning, while building the capacity of master trainers and technical teams to support schools, teachers and learners in using the platform effectively.
The effective utilisation of the Nigeria Learning Passport is expected to expand access to quality digital learning resources, promote independent learning, strengthen digital literacy and support improved learning outcomes and greater equity in access to educational opportunities.
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