The Kano State Government has announced plans to construct 130 new schools in the state through the Adolescent Girls Initiative Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project.

Dr. Gwani Ali Haruna Makoda, the Commissioner of Education, made this known at the Kano State Education Sector Joint Steering Committee Meeting in Kaduna.

The construction will comprise 75 junior secondary schools and 55 senior secondary schools.

The Commissioner also stated that the state government has introduced digital literacy programs through the AGILE and IDEAS projects. He criticised the previous administration for neglecting the education sector, citing dilapidated infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate teachers.

Malam Baffa Bashir, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, said the meeting aimed to review Kano State’s current education priorities (2025-2026) and align them with strategic objectives.

He added that the meeting would also discuss the Kano Recovery Plan, the 14-point education reform agenda, the Kano Education Strategic Plan (ESP), the Mutual Accountability Framework, curriculum reform, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) roadmap 2025-2020.

Alhaji Yusuf Kabir, Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), assured the Commissioner of Education of maximum support and cooperation from all parastatals under the ministry.

He described the appointment of Gwani Makoda as a “blessing to the state.”

Malam Mujittapha Aminu, Kano State Project Coordinator of AGILE, said the project is a five-year World Bank intervention being implemented through the Federal and Kano State Ministries of Education.

He explained that the three components of AGILE are aligned with the education sector plan and the Medium Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) plan.

Usman Abubakar Tasiu, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly, assured the Assembly’s support for the education sector.

Prof. Auwalu Halilu, chairman of the Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE), said the coalition is supporting the ministry of education and its parastatals on school monitoring and advocacy.

He recalled that K-SAFE had appealed to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to declare a state of emergency on education, and he responded positively.

Goodwill messages were also delivered by representatives of the Kano State House of Assembly, FCDO PLANE, UNICEF, and PLAN International AGILE and IDEAS projects.