Kano State Government has disclosed it lacks reliable data on out-of-school children but is working to establish accurate figures through a newly formed committee.
Commissioner for Education Dr. Ali Haruna Makoda revealed this during the biannual meeting of the Kano State Education Sector Joint Steering Committee held in Kaduna.
While citing UNESCO’s global report indicating Nigeria accounts for 10% (10.2 million) of out-of-school children worldwide, Makoda noted Kano alone represents 7.6% of the national figure with approximately 989,000 affected children.
The commissioner emphasised the state’s commitment to generating authentic data through the newly established Kano State Out-of-School Children Education Initiative Committee, scheduled for inauguration imminently.
The two-day steering committee meeting brought together government agencies, development partners, and traditional institutions to evaluate education sector progress and strategise improvements. Technical Adviser on Educational Reforms Haladu Muhammad outlined key discussion points, including curriculum reforms, Sustainable Development Goals alignment (2025-2030), and mutual accountability frameworks.
Legislative support was reaffirmed by House Committee Chairmen Usman Abubakar Tasiu Kiru (SUBEB) and Suleiman Mukhtar Madobi (Education), while the Emir of Kano’s representative stressed the importance of vocational training for youth empowerment.
Development partners, including UNICEF, PLAN International, and Save the Children, presented progress reports on their educational interventions across the state.
This initiative follows Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s establishment of the joint steering committee in 2024 to coordinate education sector support.
The government’s renewed focus comes as Kano seeks to address systemic challenges in its education system, which serves one of Nigeria’s largest student populations. Education stakeholders anticipate that the verified data will enable targeted interventions to reduce the alarming out-of-school children statistics in the state.
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cc: Nigerian Tribune
