The Federal Government has lauded the Kano State Government for allocating 32 per cent of its budget to education.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Kano State Government allocated a historic N405 billion out of its N1.36 trillion proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year to the education sector. This follows the declaration of a state of emergency on education by the state government.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the commendation on Tuesday in Kano during the presentation of permanent and pensionable appointment letters to 4,900 newly recruited teachers and the engagement of 3,688 Abba Gida Gida BESDA Cohort V facilitators.
He described the feat as a major investment in human capital development and quality education.
Mr Alausa described teachers as the most important professionals in any society, saying they play a critical role in shaping future generations and national development.
“You have a performing governor who has prioritised education. In three years, Kano has recruited about 16,000 teachers, which is a remarkable investment in human capital development,” he said.
“Teachers are the most important professionals in any country because good teachers produce good students and responsible citizens,” he added.
Mr Alausa urged the newly recruited teachers to justify the confidence reposed in them through dedication, professionalism and commitment to quality teaching.
“Much has been given to you and much is expected. Make the governor proud, make Kano State proud and teach every child with passion and care,” he said.
He also commended the state government’s investment in infrastructure, including road construction and installation of solar-powered street lights, describing the projects as evidence of good governance.
Earlier, Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf said the presentation of appointment letters marked another milestone in his administration’s efforts to reposition the education sector.
He said the government recruited more than 13,000 qualified teachers into basic and secondary schools between May 2023 and June 2026.
According to him, the latest recruitment of 4,900 teachers and engagement of 3,688 BESDA Cohort V facilitators bring the total number of newly recruited teachers and facilitators under his administration to more than 16,000.
Mr Kabir-Yusuf described the exercise as an investment in the future of Kano’s children and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving access to quality education.
He said the government had also invested in the construction and renovation of classrooms, provision of school furniture, primary school uniforms, instructional materials, and reopening of 15 boarding schools.
Others are establishment of six technical schools and continuous payment of counterpart funding to access interventions from the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC.
He said the BESDA facilitators would serve for an initial period of nine months, after which qualified beneficiaries could be considered for permanent appointment based on performance.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Yusuf Kabir said the recruitment followed due process to ensure that only qualified, competent and committed teachers were employed.
He said the exercise was guided by transparency, merit and the urgent need to improve teaching and learning outcomes across public schools.
He said education should be regarded as a shared responsibility, adding that community ownership of schools would improve learning outcomes and maximise government investments.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, described the recruitment as a timely investment in the future of Kano State and commended the governor.
“Every appointment letter represented renewed hope for classrooms, communities and children,” she said.
Mrs Garba noted that UNESCO estimated that more than 44 million teachers were needed globally to bridge the shortage of teachers, adding that Kano had distinguished itself by recruiting over 16,000 teachers in three years.
She reaffirmed UBEC’s commitment to supporting Kano in expanding access to quality basic education.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Abdullahi Musa-Abba, thanked the governor for the opportunity and pledged that the newly recruited teachers would discharge their duties diligently and uphold the ethics of the teaching profession.