The Federal Government has praised the Kano State Government for allocating 32 per cent of its 2026 budget to the education sector, describing the move as a significant investment in human capital development and quality learning.
The commendation came after the Kano State Government earmarked a record ₦405 billion out of its proposed ₦1.36 trillion 2026 budget for education.
The allocation follows the declaration of a state of emergency on education by the Kano State Government as part of efforts to revitalise the sector.
Speaking in Kano on Tuesday 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, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, applauded the state government for making education a priority.
Alausa described teachers as the backbone of every successful society, stressing that they remain central to producing responsible citizens and driving 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.
“Teachers are the most important professionals in any country because good teachers produce good students and responsible citizens,” he said.
The minister urged the newly employed teachers to justify the confidence placed in them by demonstrating commitment, professionalism and dedication in the classroom.
“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.
Alausa also commended the administration for investing heavily in infrastructure projects, including road construction and the installation of solar-powered streetlights, describing the developments as evidence of effective governance.
In his remarks, Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf said the presentation of appointment letters represented another milestone in his administration’s ongoing reforms aimed at transforming the education sector.
The governor disclosed that more than 13,000 qualified teachers had been recruited into primary and secondary schools between May 2023 and June 2026.
He explained that the latest recruitment of 4,900 teachers, alongside the engagement of 3,688 BESDA Cohort V facilitators, has increased the total number of teachers and facilitators employed under his administration to over 16,000.
Kabir-Yusuf described the recruitment exercise as an investment in the future of Kano’s children and reiterated his commitment to providing quality education across the state.
He also highlighted several education-focused projects executed by his administration, including the construction and renovation of classrooms, the provision of school furniture, free uniforms for primary school pupils and the distribution of instructional materials.
Other interventions, he said, include the reopening of 15 boarding schools, the establishment of six technical schools and the consistent payment of counterpart funding required to access interventions from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
The governor added that the newly engaged BESDA facilitators would initially serve for nine months, after which those who perform satisfactorily could be considered for permanent employment.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Yusuf Kabir, said the recruitment exercise was conducted in accordance with due process to ensure only qualified and competent candidates were selected.
He noted that the process was guided by transparency, merit and the urgent need to improve teaching standards and learning outcomes in public schools across the state.
Kabir also emphasised the importance of community participation in supporting schools, arguing that stronger community ownership would enhance educational outcomes and maximise government investments.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, described the recruitment exercise as a timely intervention that would strengthen basic education in Kano State.
“Every appointment letter represented renewed hope for classrooms, communities and children,” she said.
Garba noted that UNESCO estimates that more than 44 million teachers are needed globally to bridge the worldwide teacher shortage, adding that Kano has distinguished itself by recruiting more than 16,000 teachers within three years.
She reaffirmed UBEC’s commitment to supporting Kano State in expanding access to quality basic education.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Abdullahi Musa-Abba expressed appreciation to the governor for the opportunity and pledged that the newly recruited teachers would serve diligently while upholding the ethics of the teaching profession.
