News
UBEC, UNICEF train education stakeholders on SBMCs in Northern Nigeria
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has organized a three-day capacity-building workshop for education stakeholders from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to review key operational documents guiding School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs).
KANO FOCUS reports that the workshop, held at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano, brought together education officials, community leaders, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders to strengthen community participation and improve the delivery of basic education across the region.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, represented by the Head of Community Empowerment and Development in the Commission’s Social Mobilisation Department, Mrs. Patricia Uche, said the training was aimed at equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively implement and support SBMC activities.
She explained that participants reviewed three critical documents: the SBMC Operational Manual, the Guidelines for Monitoring and Mentoring, and the SBMC School Improvement Plan (SIP).
According to her, the review was intended to align the documents with emerging educational priorities and international best practices while enhancing access, equity, and quality in basic education.
“The training is expected to strengthen partnerships, mobilize resources, and intensify advocacy efforts aimed at increasing learner enrolment, particularly in addressing the challenge of out-of-school children,” she said.
Dr. Garba urged participants to actively engage in the highly interactive sessions to gain a better understanding of their roles in promoting school improvement initiatives. She also commended UNICEF for its sustained financial and technical support toward the development of basic education in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Malam Yusuf Kabir, represented by the Director of Upper Basic Education, Malam Maikudi Abdu Al’alawi, praised the collaborative efforts of UBEC and UNICEF in reviewing the operational documents.
He said the revised documents would provide practical guidance for effective school governance and community engagement, thereby strengthening the activities of School-Based Management Committees.
Malam Yusuf described SBMCs as one of the most effective platforms for promoting community participation, accountability, transparency, and shared ownership in the management of schools.
Through the committees, he noted, parents, traditional institutions, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders are able to contribute meaningfully to school development and improved learning outcomes.
He further highlighted Kano State’s commitment to strengthening SBMCs, noting that the state government, through SUBEB, has continued to support the committees by providing office accommodation and monthly operational assistance.
According to him, the gesture demonstrates the government’s dedication to promoting community participation and accountability in school management.
The SUBEB chairman also commended the facilitators, organizers, and resource persons for their efforts in building the capacity of education stakeholders from across Northern Nigeria and the FCT before officially declaring the workshop open.
In their goodwill messages, the representative of the National Chairman of SBMC, Dr. Kabiru Aliyu, and Malam Hassan Ibrahim, representing Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), lauded the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the vision and mission of School-Based Management Committees.
They noted that the training would enhance efforts to promote school enrolment, improve community participation, and expand access to quality basic education for all children.
Participants expressed optimism that the workshop would strengthen their capacity to effectively implement SBMC activities and contribute to improved educational outcomes across the Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Ibrahim Khalil
The Kano State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (KASSTOWA) has strengthened security at Joda Waterworks to prevent vandalism, theft and unauthorised access to the facility.
KANO FOCUS reports that the agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, following an assessment visit to the waterworks by its interim managing director to evaluate the security situation.
According to the statement, additional security personnel have been deployed to protect the facility and ensure uninterrupted water supply.
The agency said the measure was part of efforts to safeguard critical water infrastructure and protect public assets from potential threats.
It added that the intervention aligned with the commitment of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to protecting government facilities and ensuring the delivery of essential services, in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Water Resources.
KASSTOWA also emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration in strengthening infrastructure protection.
The agency called on community leaders, traditional institutions, youth organisations and residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities and cooperate with security personnel deployed to the facility.
It stressed that protecting water infrastructure was a shared responsibility requiring the cooperation of government agencies and host communities.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Police Command has foiled an alleged kidnapping plot in Gezawa Local Government Area and arrested two 20-year-old suspects over threats to abduct a village head.
KANO FOCUS reports that the suspects, identified as Aliyu Naziru Garba and Bashir Alhasan, were arrested following intelligence-led operations by police operatives attached to the Gezawa Divisional Police Headquarters.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.
According to the statement, the incident was reported on October 26, 2026, at about 1:30 a.m. by the village head of Bangare, Mallam Idris, who told the police that he had received a threatening phone call from an unidentified person on October 24 at about 9:33 p.m.
The caller allegedly threatened to kidnap him.
Following the report, police operatives launched a follow-up operation, which led to the arrest of the two suspects.
“The suspects have confessed to the commission of the crime,” the statement said, adding that investigations were ongoing and the suspects would be charged to court upon completion.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended officers of the Gezawa Division for their swift and professional response.
Bakori reiterated the command’s zero-tolerance stance on criminal activities and said the operation aligned with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, which prioritises intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, professionalism and proactive crime prevention.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station.
The command also provided the following emergency contact numbers for reporting security concerns: 08032419754, 08123821575 and 09029292926.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Rumfa Old Boys Association, Class of 1984, has commenced a fully funded pilot programme aimed at improving learning outcomes among selected students of their alma mater through a structured three-year academic intervention.
The chapter’s chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Jibril, disclosed this in a statement sent to KANO FOCUS explaining that the programme would provide sustained academic support to students from Senior Secondary School One (SS1) to SS3.
According to him, the initiative, known as the Targeted Academic Grooming Programme, is designed to address learning challenges through evidence-based interventions adapted to the realities of the Nigerian education system.
Jibril said the programme had commenced with a review and validation of its work plan organised by the old students, with key stakeholders participating in the exercise.
Those present included representatives of the Rumfa Old Boys Association’s national chapter, the Kano State Ministry of Education, the Zonal Education Office, the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).
The three-year initiative seeks to improve students’ academic performance through targeted teaching, teacher development, counselling, parental engagement and improved learning facilities.
Under the programme, all SS1 students will be observed throughout the academic session, after which an initial cohort of 50 students will be selected based on academic performance, attitude to learning, teachers’ assessments and a structured aptitude assessment.
The programme’s planners envisage that about 40 students may ultimately complete the intervention, with parents’ or guardians’ commitment assessed before enrolment.
In the second year, the selected students will form a dedicated class taught by some of the school’s strongest teachers. They will also receive quality learning materials, counselling support and other interventions to address barriers to effective learning.
Parents will be engaged every term, while the Old Boys Association and the wider community will receive periodic updates on the programme’s progress.
The final year will focus on consolidating students’ academic foundations and preparing them for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The programme will include two full mock examinations, while support will be provided for examination registration for students from indigent backgrounds.
At the end of the three-year cycle, the association plans to produce a comprehensive impact report documenting the programme’s achievements and lessons.
The programme is designed as a holistic intervention rather than a conventional remedial class, with emphasis on addressing challenges affecting students, teachers, parents, the learning environment and education support systems.
Its expected outcomes include at least 90 per cent of participating students obtaining five credits in the WASSCE, including English Language and Mathematics.
Other targets include retraining and equipping six subject teachers, refurbishing a dedicated classroom and developing a documented model that could be replicated by the state government or other development partners.
To ensure accountability, the programme will be supervised by a steering committee comprising representatives of the Old Boys Association, the school principal, programme coordinator, a parent representative, a community or traditional institution representative, and an advisory representative of the State Ministry of Education.
The committee will meet quarterly to review monitoring and evaluation data, approve expenditure and address implementation challenges. It will also report to the association’s annual general meeting, while the association reserves the right to commission an independent audit.
The association said the initiative reflects its commitment to giving back to the institution that shaped its members and investing in the academic future of subsequent generations.
It expressed the hope that the programme would establish a sustainable model for improving learning outcomes, strengthening teaching capacity and supporting future students beyond the pilot phase.
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