Kaduna State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive, equitable and quality education as stakeholders gathered to mark the 2026 International Day of Education.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Education at the Education Stakeholders’ Voices Forum, the Director of Public Schools, Mukhtar Maude, said the 2026 theme – “Education is a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility: the power of youth in co-creating education” – aligns with the state’s vision of shared responsibility in advancing education.
The programme was organised by the Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM) and the Kaduna Local Governments Accountability Mechanism (KAD-LGAM), with support from the Partnership for Learning for All (PLANE) through the Beta Nigeria Campaign.
It brought together government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), parents, communities, pupils and members of the media.
Mukhtar Maude emphasised that education must not be treated as a privilege but as a fundamental right that should be protected, adequately funded and collectively delivered by government, communities, development partners and families.
According to him, achieving Education for All requires the active involvement of all segments of society.
Maude also highlighted the importance of youth participation, noting that young people are not only beneficiaries of education but critical partners in shaping inclusive, relevant and future-ready learning systems.
He said their voices, creativity and innovations are essential to building an education sector that responds to present challenges and future aspirations.
He further stated that the Kaduna State Government remains committed to strengthening access, quality, equity and accountability in the education sector, while creating platforms for dialogue, collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
The Director commended education stakeholders for their sustained partnership and expressed optimism that discussions at the forum would yield actionable ideas to further position education as a true public good for all citizens.
The representative of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB), Hauwa’u Muhammad, said leadership within the basic education sector was driving the productive integration of ideas and partnerships to improve learning outcomes for learners.
She explained that collaboration across institutions remains critical to delivering quality basic education and effectively supporting teachers and learners.
The Director-General of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA), Prof. Abubakar Zaria, acknowledged progress made in education delivery while noting that challenges in quality assurance and learning outcomes persist.
He reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to promoting excellence, supporting educators and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across public and private schools.
The Team Lead of PLANE, Mrs Diana Agabi, described education as a cornerstone for empowering individuals and transforming communities, applauding the diversity of stakeholders present at the forum.
Agabi, who was represented by PLANE’s Results and Learning Manager, Musa Jimoh, said the gathering of ministries, agencies, civil society organisations, School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) and the media demonstrated a shared commitment to improving education outcomes in Kaduna State.
She urged stakeholders to recommit to inclusive and equitable quality education, stressing that sustained collaboration could overcome existing challenges and expand opportunities for every child.
The representative of the Beta Nigeria Campaign, Friday Odey, said the campaign focuses on evidence-based advocacy to amplify collective voices on education reforms, teacher quality and learning outcomes.
He noted that while progress has been made, stronger societal engagement is needed to secure the future of education and young people, particularly in states with high numbers of out-of-school children.
In his address, the Coordinator of the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project (ROOSC) in Kaduna State, Dr Ezra Angai, said the meeting was timely as the state continues to implement wide-ranging education reforms.
He disclosed that while earlier data indicated over 700,000 out-of-school children, recent mapping shows the figure has reduced to fewer than 200,000 at the basic education level.
The Lead of the Education Cohort of KAD-LGAM, Alheri Waje, said the event provided a platform to reflect on data, amplify youth voices and strengthen accountability.
Waje noted that education remains a fundamental human right, a public good and a shared responsibility, aligning the 2026 International Day of Education with Kaduna State’s ongoing education reform agenda.
In his remarks, the Acting Secretary of KADBEAM, Mr Simeon Olatunde, said the objective of the engagement was to provide a platform for youth, teachers, parents, School-Based Management Committees and Persons with Disabilities to share experiences and identify Kaduna-specific education challenges.
COV: Adamu Yusuf
