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.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Kano State Command, has recorded another milestone in its inmate rehabilitation programme, with 61 inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kurmawa, completing the memorisation and recitation of the Holy Qur’an.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Public Relations Officer of the command, Misbahu Lawan Kofar Nassarawa, disclosed this in a statement, saying the achievement underscores the Service’s commitment to inmate reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration in line with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.
According to the statement, the graduating class comprised 55 male and six female inmates, many of whom had little or no prior knowledge of complete Qur’anic recitation before they were admitted to the custodial facility.
The command said the inmates attained full memorisation of the Holy Qur’an through structured religious instruction, discipline and dedication, describing the feat as evidence of the transformative impact of faith-based rehabilitation programmes.
To mark the occasion, the Nigerian Correctional Service, in collaboration with the Chokali Humanitarian Foundation, presented welfare packages to the graduates.
Each inmate received new clothing, mattresses, blankets and financial support to encourage personal development and facilitate successful reintegration into society after release.
The Controller of Corrections, Kano State Command, Ahmed Yusuf Lakpene, commended the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, for promoting educational, vocational and moral development programmes across custodial centres nationwide.
Mr Lakpene said such initiatives equip inmates with the knowledge, skills and values required to become responsible and productive citizens after serving their sentences.
The Officer-in-Charge of the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibrahim Rambo, expressed appreciation to the Kano State Command and the Chokali Humanitarian Foundation for supporting the rehabilitation programme.
He described the Qur’an graduation ceremony as a demonstration of effective leadership, collaboration and the Service’s commitment to holistic inmate development.
Also speaking, Professor Aliyu Haruna praised the Correctional Service for its sustained efforts to transform inmates through meaningful rehabilitation programmes.
He said faith-based interventions play an important role in preparing inmates to return to society as responsible and law-abiding citizens.
Chairperson of the Kano State Prerogative of Mercy Committee, Hajiya Azumi Namadi Bebeji, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving inmate welfare.
She commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his continued support for inmates across custodial centres in Kano State.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee, CSC Mohammed Ali Kibiya, congratulated the 61 graduates and urged them to sustain the discipline, moral values and spiritual growth they acquired during the programme.
He also encouraged inmates to continue praying for peace, unity and progress in Nigeria.
The event featured special prayers led by the Custodial Chaplain, DSC Mohammed Alkanawy, and the Chief Imam, Imam Nasiru Abdu, who prayed for the inmates, the Nigerian Correctional Service and the nation.
Dan Ruwatan Kano, Alhaji Ibrahim Ado Bayero, presented certificates to the 61 graduates in recognition of their successful completion of the Qur’anic memorisation programme.
The Kano State Command reiterated its commitment to promoting public safety through education, vocational training, moral guidance and faith-based rehabilitation programmes designed to facilitate the successful reintegration of inmates into society.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced registration for the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage, with an initial deposit of ₦8 million fixed for all intending pilgrims from the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Director-General of the Board, Abubakar Ibrahim Matawalle, announced this during a press briefing held at the Board’s conference hall in Kano.
Mr Matawalle said the decision followed extensive consultations aimed at ensuring early planning and effective coordination for the 2027 Hajj exercise.
According to him, the sale of Hajj seats and payment process began on **Sunday, 12 July 2026**, and will close on **26 September 2026**.
He urged prospective pilgrims to complete their registration and payment within the stipulated period to avoid last-minute inconveniences and enable the Board to make adequate preparations for a successful pilgrimage.
The director-general explained that the Board had established a transparent payment process, stating that all payments must be made through bank drafts and submitted to Local Government Hajj Centre officers across the state.
He advised intending pilgrims to adhere strictly to the procedures approved by the Kano State Government and warned them against dealing with unauthorised individuals or agents.
Mr Matawalle reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to providing efficient, transparent and quality services to ensure that pilgrims from Kano State perform the Hajj in comfort, safety and dignity.
He also expressed appreciation to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his continued support and commitment to the welfare of pilgrims.
The director-general further thanked religious leaders, stakeholders and the people of Kano State for their cooperation and confidence in the Board.
He prayed that Allah accepts the intentions of all prospective pilgrims, grants them the opportunity to perform an accepted Hajj and returns them safely to their families.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has pledged to sustain the education reforms introduced under the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme, as the five-year intervention comes to an end.
KANO FOCUS reports that the commitment was made on Thursday at the PLANE Transition Workshop in Kano, where government officials, development partners, civil society organisations and education stakeholders reviewed the programme’s achievements and discussed strategies for sustaining its gains.
The programme, funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has supported education reforms in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno states since 2021, focusing on improving foundational literacy and numeracy, strengthening education governance and expanding access to learning for vulnerable children.
Speaking at the workshop, the Kano Commissioner for Education, Gwani Dr Ali Abubakar Haruna Makoda, said the programme had significantly strengthened the state’s education system through improved planning, teacher development and expanded access to quality learning materials.
Gwani Dr Ali Abubakar Haruna Makoda
Gwani Dr Ali Abubakar Haruna MakodaDr Makoda said one of the programme’s major achievements was supporting the Kano State Government to conduct a household survey on out-of-school children, which produced credible data for planning education interventions.
He added that PLANE had also contributed to improved learning outcomes among primary school pupils through teacher capacity building and the large-scale distribution of teaching and learning materials.
Malam Bashir Baffa, Gwani Dr Ali Abubakar Haruna Makoda and Mr Ian Attfield
“The support we received from FCDO and PLANE has strengthened our education system. We have recorded remarkable improvements in learning outcomes and now have reliable data on out-of-school children to guide government policies and interventions,” he said.
The commissioner assured stakeholders that the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf would sustain the reforms introduced under the programme and continue collaborating with development partners to improve education in the state.
UK urges stronger local ownership
Delivering the keynote address, the Senior Education Adviser at the British High Commission, Ian Attfield, reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting sustainable education reforms in Nigeria through strategic partnerships.
Mr Ian Attfield
Mr Attfield commended the Kano State Government and implementing partners for their commitment to improving education, describing the transition phase as an opportunity to consolidate achievements and strengthen government ownership of ongoing reforms.
He urged stakeholders to institutionalise successful interventions, invest in state capacity and sustain collaboration among government, communities and development partners to preserve the gains recorded under the programme.
Earlier, the PLANE State Team Lead in Kano, Malam Umar Lawan, described the transition workshop as an important platform for reviewing the programme’s achievements, lessons learnt and best practices.
Cross section of participants
He said the transition process was designed to ensure sustainability through stronger government ownership, institutional capacity and stakeholder collaboration.
Kano honours PLANE partners
As part of the event, the commissioner presented a Letter of Appreciation to the PLANE Programme Manager, represented by the Education Manager of Save the Children International, Stephen Sawa, in recognition of the programme’s contributions to education development in Kano.
The award particularly acknowledged PLANE’s donation of teaching and learning materials for the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP), aimed at supporting out-of-school and vulnerable children enrolled in learning centres across the state.
Dr Makoda commended PLANE, Save the Children International and other consortium partners for their technical support and investment in strengthening Kano’s education sector.
Cross Section of Participants
Receiving the award, Mr Sawa thanked the Kano State Government for its collaboration throughout the programme’s implementation and reaffirmed the commitment of Save the Children International and its partners to supporting efforts to improve learning outcomes for children.
UNICEF, civil society seek continuity
The Education Specialist at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Muntaka Mukhtar, also reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Kano State in promoting inclusive and equitable education.
Muntaka Mukhtar
He said the transition workshop offered stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on the programme’s achievements and develop practical strategies for sustaining reforms in education planning, data management, access and learning outcomes.
Mr Mukhtar urged the state government to demonstrate stronger ownership of the reforms through adequate funding, effective coordination and sustained collaboration with development partners.
The Co-chair of the Civil Society Organisations of the Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE), Dr Auwalu Halilu, said the programme had transformed the relationship between civil society organisations and government in Kano.
According to him, PLANE strengthened the capacity of civil society groups to engage government through evidence-based advocacy rather than confrontation.
He said K-SAFE has become increasingly self-reliant, mobilising resources to conduct school and public examination monitoring without donor funding.
Dr Halilu disclosed that the forum monitored 68 schools last year independently and has expanded the exercise this year to include external examinations across the state.
“Although PLANE is coming to an end, its legacies will remain visible in Kano State,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Community Aid-Connect (CAC), Sirajo Mahe Alkali, commended the FCDO for supporting interventions that expanded access to education for out-of-school children, girls and other vulnerable learners.
He highlighted the organisation’s partnership with PLANE in implementing the Digital and Remote Access School Instruction (DARASI) pilot project in Kano, which used community learning centres, radio instruction and digital technologies to reach underserved communities.
Mr Alkali called on governments, development partners and civil society organisations to sustain the programme’s successful interventions through increased domestic investment in education.
At the close of the workshop, Mr Attfield formally presented the PLANE transition report to the Director of Development Partners Coordination in the Kano State Ministry of Education, Lukman Tajo Siraj, on behalf of the commissioner, while the Director of Special Programmes at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Nura Ibrahim, received copies on behalf of the board’s Executive Chairman.
The workshop concluded with stakeholders endorsing key transition actions and reaffirming their commitment to sustaining the reforms introduced under the PLANE programme through stronger government leadership, institutional coordination and continued collaboration with development partners.
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