From Salim Umar Ibrahim, Kano
The Federal Government, in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), on Tuesday commissioned a bilingual education boarding school in Kiru Local Government Area of Kano State as part of efforts to expand access to inclusive and quality basic education across the country.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the project as a significant investment in human capital development, social inclusion, and regional stability. She said the school reflects the strong collaboration between the Federal Government, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the IsDB in addressing the educational needs of vulnerable and out-of-school children.
According to her, the bilingual education model combines English and Arabic literacy with modern teaching methods, technical and vocational education, ICT-driven learning, and safe boarding facilities. She noted that bilingual education enhances communication, preserves cultural identity, and improves global competitiveness, while ensuring that religious education is balanced with modern learning.
Professor Ahmad added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education transformation agenda, which prioritises access, equity, skills development, and strategic planning, as well as efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children nationwide.
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, said the commissioning of the school opens new opportunities for learning and national development. He noted that the state government had declared a state of emergency in the education sector and initiated wide-ranging reforms to improve access, infrastructure, and learning outcomes.
The governor disclosed that his administration has recruited additional teachers, supplied thousands of textbooks, and invested heavily in infrastructure, including the construction of over 1,700 new classrooms and the rehabilitation of existing ones across the state. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to prioritising education and ensuring that children from poor and vulnerable backgrounds have access to quality learning.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of UBEC said the Kiru school is one of 30 bilingual model schools being constructed across nine states, including Kano, Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, and Niger. She revealed that Kano State hosts four of the schools, located in Kiru, Doguwa, Ganduje, and Ungoggo.
She explained that each model school can accommodate over 1,000 students and is equipped with academic and administrative blocks, hostels, staff quarters, vocational centres, a mosque, water facilities, and perimeter fencing. She also commended the Kano State Government for its support in land provision, security, and coordination, and praised the IsDB for its sustained commitment to education development in Nigeria.