The Kaduna State Government is currently implementing a massive project tagged Reaching out of School Children in the state.
Governor Uba Sani announced this during Kaduna Book and Arts Festival KABAFEST held in Kaduna.
According to him, it is estimated that about 524, 670 children between the ages of 6 and 11 are out of School Children in the State.
Governor Sani explained that, the project would improve access to learning opportunities, improve enrollment and ensure active participation and completion of primary education by all children especially those with disability, girls and adolescents.
He said his government is implementing the initiative with the support of Kuwait fund for Arab Economic Development, Islamic Development Bank, Global Partnership for Education, Education above all and Save the Children Fund.
Malam Uba Sani pointed out that, they had made provision for 100 students to take advantage of the Kaduna State Book grant which offers them the opportunity to spend twenty thousand naira on books in the festival book store.
He maintained that, Kaduna remained the only state funded the KABAFEST festival in Nigeria and pledged to continue providing support in hosting the festival every year in the state.
Malam Uba Sani commended the organisers for sustaining the event in Kaduna which attracts acclaimed authors, audacious artist, creative musicians among others.
He stressed that, it was clear that, KABAFEST is not just a festival, it has become a movement towards the establishment of a sustainable ecosystem for the art, providing Young people with a platform where culture and commerce intersect fruitfully.
The wife of Former Governor of Kaduna State, Hadiza Isma Elrufai said the idea for the festival was to encourage young people to exhibit their talents.
Earlier, Director Book Buzz Foundation and the organiser of the event, Ms Lola Shoneyin told the participants that, creativity requires nurturing and platforms where they can showcase their work which will inspire others.
According to her, that is how creative talents mostly uncovered and continue from generation to generation.
Ms Shoneyin also revealed the KABAFEST is all about knowledge sharing and transfer of best practice in different areas of creative endeavours.
COV/AMINU DALHATU
