Headlines
Kano Records 875,593 Out-of-School Children, New Survey Reveals
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State has an estimated 875,593 children aged between five and 18 years out of school, according to a new survey presented on Thursday by the Commissioner for Education, Dr Ali Haruna Makoda.
KANO FOCUS reports that the survey, conducted across the state’s 44 Local Government Areas in March 2026, estimated that 13.34 per cent of the 6.56 million children aged five to 18 in Kano are out of school.
The assessment, described as the first statistically representative survey of out-of-school children in Kano in more than a decade, was conducted by the Kano State Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), with funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the Kano State Bureau of Statistics.
Dr Ali Haruna Makoda.
According to the findings, 6,233, representing 86.67 per cent, of the 7,192 children surveyed were enrolled in school, while 959, or 13.34 per cent, were out of school.
Of the out-of-school children identified, 501 had never attended school, while 458 had previously attended but dropped out.
The report revealed significant disparities across the 44 LGAs, with some recording out-of-school rates of 40 per cent or higher, while others recorded rates below five per cent.
Doguwa LGA recorded the highest rate at 40 per cent, followed by Warawa with 34.69 per cent and Gaya with 33.86 per cent.
The report described the situation in the three LGAs as an emergency-level education exclusion crisis requiring immediate intervention.
Parents support education
The survey also challenged the perception that cultural resistance to formal education was a major factor behind the out-of-school children crisis in the state.
It found that 99.6 per cent of caregivers considered children’s education important or very important, with only eight respondents expressing a negative view of education.
The report consequently identified the crisis largely as a service delivery and equity challenge, rather than a problem of parental attitudes towards education.
“Parents want school for their children; the system is failing to make it accessible, affordable, and of sufficient quality to retain children once enrolled,” the report stated.
Multiple factors responsible
The survey identified five broad categories of barriers to school attendance: family and cultural reasons, school-related challenges, child-related factors, other factors, and financial or economic constraints.
Family and cultural factors accounted for 24.2 per cent of responses, followed by school-related reasons at 23.6 per cent, child-related factors at 21.6 per cent, other reasons at 21.4 per cent and financial or economic factors at 12.6 per cent.
The report recommended a coordinated, multi-sectoral response, stressing that no single intervention could adequately address the scale and complexity of the crisis.
The survey further found that boys constituted 54.2 per cent of the out-of-school population, compared with 45.8 per cent for girls.
It linked the higher proportion of boys largely to the Almajiri/Qur’anic education system and casual labour.
The report also revealed that about 90.9 per cent of parents supported equal education for boys and girls.
The findings are expected to serve as a baseline for monitoring Kano State’s progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality and inclusive education through 2030.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Political allies and loyalists of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Arc Aminu Dabo, have begun resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State following his withdrawal from the ruling party.
KANO FOCUS reports that the supporters, operating under the political group Dabo Alheri Ne, reportedly include members across Kano State’s 44 local government areas.
Barely two days after Dabo announced his resignation from the APC, a prominent stakeholder of the group, Garba Zakiru Dambatta, said members had welcomed the decision and were showing solidarity by submitting their resignation letters to their respective ward party chairmen.
Dambatta, a former APC chairman in Dambatta Local Government Area, said the group’s members were disappointed with what they described as the prolonged marginalisation of Mr Dabo and his supporters within the party.
According to him, despite Mr Dabo’s contributions to the APC and efforts to strengthen the party and manage disagreements among its members, some key stakeholders had continued to sideline him and his loyalists in party activities.
Dambatta reaffirmed the group’s commitment to standing by Mr Dabo’s political decisions and supporting his future political journey.
He also urged the former NPA managing director not to succumb to political pressure or reverse his decision to leave the party.
“This step you have taken, we have the conviction that it is the beginning of a new chapter of goodness in your life,” Dambatta said.
Among the prominent members of the group identified as supporting Mr Dabo’s decision are Abba Rabee’u, a former Senior Special Assistant on Political Awareness; Almustapha Jilani Danmalam, a former Senior Special Assistant on Education; Jamilu Abdullahi Zangon-Mata, a former Senior Special Assistant on Entrepreneurship; and Fahd A. Dabo, a former Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation.
The individuals reportedly served during the second term of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The group also said several other party loyalists and supporters were backing Dabo following his resignation.
However, the statement did not provide the number of members who had formally resigned from the APC or indicate whether the party leadership had responded to the development.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Five players of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Club have been invited to the national camp of Nigeria’s Special Super Eagles ahead of the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.
KANO FOCUS reports that invited players are Isah Yusuf, Abba Musa, Habu Friday, Emanuel Betel and Usman Ahmed. They are currently in Abuja with the national team as preparations intensify for the global tournament.
The Team Manager of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Team, Jamilu Uba Adamu, disclosed this in an interview with Ashiru Rabiu Gidan Tudu, Information Officer of the Kano State Sports Commission.
Adamu described the invitation as recognition of the players’ dedication, discipline and outstanding performances.
He expressed confidence that the players would represent Kano State and Nigeria with honour at the championship.
According to him, the call-up also demonstrates Kano Pillars’ commitment to nurturing talented amputee footballers and contributing to the development of the sport in Nigeria.
The 2026 Amputee Football World Cup is scheduled to take place from November 13 to 22 in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico. A total of 24 countries, including seven African nations, are expected to participate.
The Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, congratulated the five players on their invitation, describing it as well deserved.
Babangida expressed confidence that they would justify the confidence reposed in them by the national team selectors.
He assured the players of the commission’s continued support and urged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to making Kano State and Nigeria proud on the international stage.
Ibrahim Khalil
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Aminu Dabo, has resigned as the party’s caucus chairman in Dambatta Local Government Area and withdrawn his membership of the ruling party.
KANO FOCUS reports that Dabo, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), announced his resignation in a letter dated October 7, 2026, addressed to the APC chairman of Dambatta Gabas Ward.
In the letter, personally signed by him, Dabo said he took the decision after careful consideration of personal reasons and his future endeavours.
He confirmed his resignation during a telephone conversation from Abuja on Wednesday, saying he had formally submitted the letter to the appropriate party officials in Dambatta for necessary action.
“I remain grateful for the cordial relationship I enjoyed and appreciative of the experience gained during my time of service,” he said.
The former NPA managing director also thanked the party’s leadership for the opportunity and confidence reposed in him to contribute to its development and progress during his membership.
“I sincerely appreciate the support and opportunity I have received from the party leadership,” he added.
A statement issued by Abdullahi Othman, Media and Publicity Aide to Dabo Dabo, said the former NPA MD did not disclose further details about his reasons for leaving the APC in the resignation letter.
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