In a significant move to support education, the Kano State Government has approved a substantial sum of N3billion to cover the examination fees of 141,745 indigent candidates. This initiative is part of the government’s commitment to improving access to quality education and easing the financial burden on families. The State Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, announced this during a press briefing in Kano, highlighting the government’s dedication to education reform.
The announcement aligns with Governor Abba Yusuf’s Education Reform Agenda, which has already seen the declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector and the allocation of 31.5% of the 2025 budget to it. The benefiting candidates are from public schools under the Kano Educational Resource Department, the Science and Technical Schools Board, and the Agency for Integrated Education Development. These students had sat for the 2024 examination, with over 75% qualifying for state sponsorship.
In 2023, the State Government sponsored 125,000 candidates, and this year, Governor Yusuf has approved the sponsorship of all indigent candidates who scored a minimum of five credits in the 2024 Senior Secondary Qualifying Examination. The beneficiaries will have their registration fees fully covered for the 2025 national examinations, including NECO, NABTEB, NBAIS, and SSCE. Commissioner Makoda emphasized that this initiative is a timely and bold move to promote academic excellence, increase access to education, and ease the financial burden on vulnerable families.
The commissioner directed Principals to ensure that all eligible candidates benefit from the scheme without any bias or obstruction, emphasizing that they must access their rights unconditionally and with full transparency. More details on the registration process will be communicated to schools and the public through relevant education agencies. This development positions Kano among a select few Nigerian states demonstrating a strong financial and policy commitment to supporting youth education. As Commissioner Makoda noted, this initiative is not just about examinations, but about shaping the future of Kano through an educated and empowered generation.
