In a bold move to strengthen girls’ education and bridge gender disparities in learning, the Kano State Government has unveiled strategic plans to enhance support for girls through sustained gender-responsive collaboration and equitable budget allocation.
The commitment was reaffirmed by the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ali Haruna Makoda, during the two-day Kano Girls’ Education Summit 2025, organized by the Bridge Connect Africa Initiative under the Malala Foundation, in collaboration with the state government.
The event, held at the International Conference Hall, Bayero University, Kano, brought together key education stakeholders, policymakers, and advocates from across Nigeria.
The summit, themed “Investing in Her Future – Advancing Girls’ Education Through Equitable Budgeting,” focused on promoting sustained investment in girls’ education and improving access to quality learning opportunities for every girl in Kano State.
Dr. Makoda emphasized that strengthening budgetary support and policy implementation is vital for advancing gender equality and achieving sustainable development.
Highlighting the government’s financial commitment, Makoda disclosed that 29.79% of the 2024 state budget and 31.5% of the 2025 budget have been dedicated to education with a significant portion directed toward girls’ education programs.
According to him, the state has repaired over 70 grounded girl-child shuttle buses, reviewed the Girl-Child Policy, and supported less privileged girls through conditional cash transfers to encourage school attendance and retention.
The Technical Adviser to the Governor on Education Reforms, Haladu Muhammad, also underscored the economic and social benefits of investing in girls’ education, linking it to poverty reduction, improved healthcare, and women’s empowerment.
He added that the government’s Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) is already expanding access to secondary education for adolescent girls across the state.
The summit provided a platform for stakeholders to share insights, align strategies, and reaffirm commitments toward achieving inclusive and equitable education for all girls in Kano State.
Cov/Khadijah Aliyu
