By Hussaini Ibrahim Sulaiman
The Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, has described the recognition of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as Governor of the Year 2024 by LEADERSHIP newspaper as well-deserved.
Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP, Waiya highlighted the governor’s commitment to transforming education in Kano State.
He noted that Governor Yusuf declared a state of emergency in the sector and allocated about 30% of the 2024 budget to its development.
According to the commissioner, classrooms across the 44 local government areas have been renovated, with additional blocks constructed to accommodate more students.
The government also introduced free school uniforms, benefiting over 700,000 primary school pupils. To enhance access to higher education, Governor Yusuf revived the foreign scholarship scheme initially pioneered by Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Under this initiative, 1,001 students were sponsored to study abroad, with 150 of them already returning home with master’s degrees from universities in India.
In response to rising tuition fees in federal universities, the governor provided over ₦700 million to support Kano State students nationwide.
Similarly, state-owned universities, including Northwest University and Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, received substantial backing for accreditation.
Northwest University recently secured approval to offer MBBS and Law programs and has commenced admissions for its Law faculty.
The commissioner further stated that Governor Yusuf has prioritized teacher recruitment, hiring 3,866 new primary school teachers to improve education quality. The administration also settled outstanding examination fees, paying ₦1.6 billion to WAEC, NECO, and NBAIS to prevent students’ results from being withheld.
Additional funds have been allocated to ensure seamless registration for future examinations. Furthermore, the governor approved a 50% reduction in tuition fees for Kano State students in all state-owned tertiary institutions, easing the financial burden on families.
To enhance learning conditions, the state government has distributed hundreds of thousands of tables and chairs across the 44 local government areas, with more still being provided. It has also ensured a steady electricity supply at Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education by connecting it to the Tiga Independent Power Plant.
Comrade Waiya emphasized that these efforts reflect Governor Yusuf’s dedication to quality education and human capital development in Kano State, justifying his recognition as Governor of the Year 2024 by LEADERSHIP newspaper.
