By Awwal Umar Kontagora In a renewed push to revitalise basic education, Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, on Wednesday fla...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
In a renewed push to revitalise basic education, Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, on Wednesday flagged off the distribution of learning materials, vehicles, and motorcycles worth ₦2.7 billion to schools across the state.
Speaking at the launch event held at the Haliru Abdu Stadium in Birnin Kebbi, the governor described the initiative as part of his administration’s unwavering commitment to reposition the state’s education sector.
“Kebbi is not only an agrarian state, it is also an education state. In Kebbi, we offer free education. Today, we are witnessing the distribution of books to schools to ensure access and quality,” he said.
Items distributed under the programme include over 2 million copies of literacy and exercise books, computers, vehicles, and motorcycles, among others. The gesture is aimed at bolstering learning outcomes at both primary and secondary school levels.
Education Reforms and Investments
Governor Idris highlighted some of his administration’s achievements within two years, including:
Renovation and furnishing of over 2,000 schools
Construction of mega schools across the four emirates
Release of ₦2 billion for registration fees of indigent students
Recruitment of 2,000 teachers as part of a broader employment of 5,000 workers across sectors including health and law
Extension of teachers’ service years from 35 to 40—an initiative the governor described as his personal legacy during his tenure as President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT)
“Before I was elected NUT President, extending teachers’ service years was a core demand I advocated for. I am proud Kebbi is among the few states to domesticate this law,” the governor stated.
Professors Appointed to Lead Basic Education at LG Level
In a bold move to strengthen educational governance, Governor Idris announced that professors of Kebbi origin have been appointed as chairmen of Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs). Each chairman will be provided with an official vehicle, and the governor has directed the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to double their allowances to motivate performance.
“I commend the professors for their invaluable contributions to revamping our education sector. I charge you to do more to keep Kebbi above the national average in basic education,” he added.
The governor noted that Kebbi’s public schools were increasingly competing favourably with private institutions and assured continued infrastructural investments across the state, including roads and utilities in rural communities.
Stakeholders Commend Governor's Vision
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Halima Bande, urged beneficiaries to utilise the materials responsibly to elevate education standards, while the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon. Garba Bena, reaffirmed the State Assembly’s full support.
“We deliberated and passed the Executive Bill on extension of service for teachers swiftly. The governor didn’t hesitate to assent to it. We are 100% behind his education vision,” Bena said.
In his remarks, Prof. Suleiman Khalid-Jega, Executive Chairman of SUBEB, praised the governor’s unprecedented investments in the sector. He cited notable projects such as:
Construction of over 1,000 classrooms
Drilling of boreholes in schools
Provision of furniture, hardware, and software for learning
Allocation of ₦200,000 to each School-Based Management Committee (SBMC)
Training of 18,681 teachers and administrators
“Our governor is a teacher and a visionary leader. Under his stewardship, Kebbi now ranks above the national average in Mathematics, English, and Basic Science. This shows we are on the right path,” Prof. Khalid-Jega affirmed.
He added that the appointment of professors to head LGEAs is a transformational move that is already yielding results in learning outcomes across the state.
The large-scale education investment is widely regarded as a milestone in Kebbi’s march toward becoming a model for public education in Nigeria.
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