By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

As part of activities marking the 2025 International Day of Education (IDE), UNICEF has called on the governments of Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina states to increase funding, allocation, and spending on basic education to address the barriers hindering children from accessing quality education.

During a press briefing held at BON Hotel in Kano, Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, emphasized that education is a fundamental human right and a critical engine for societal development.

Farah highlighted the urgent need to tackle the issue of out-of-school children (OOSC) through equitable initiatives, noting that about 10.2 million primary school-age children are currently out of school in Nigeria, with Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states accounting for 16% of this figure, according to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS).
This is broken down with
Kano State having a larger share of 989,234 out-of-school children, Katsina with 536,112 out-of-school children and Jigawa 337,861 out-of-school children

Farah noted, “Close to 32% of primary school-age children in Kano are out of school. This alarming situation requires urgent attention and commitment from all stakeholders to remove barriers to education access.”

He also appealed for increased recruitment of qualified teachers, especially in basic and post-basic education, and the strengthening of Jigawa’s newly established Tsangaya Education Board to effectively implement its mandate.

The UNICEF official lamented that Nigeria spends only 1.2% of its GDP on education, far below the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 recommendation of 4-6%.
According to him, although Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina have met the UNESCO benchmark for budgetary allocation, actual releases and spending remain insufficient.

Farah urged state governments to bridge these gaps, noting that inadequate funding undermines the education sector’s ability to address challenges such as teacher shortages and infrastructural deficits.
Farah also drew attention to the disruptive impact of climate change on learning, calling for innovative solutions to mitigate its effects on education.
The International Day of Education, established by the UN General Assembly in 2018, serves as an annual advocacy platform to emphasize the importance of education in building inclusive and peaceful societies. The 2025 theme, “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation,” underscores the evolving role of education in a rapidly changing world.

UNICEF expressed gratitude to its partners, including the European Union for its support of the Education and Youth Empowerment (EYE) Programme in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto states, and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office for the CRIBS project in Kano and Jigawa.

Farah concluded by urging all stakeholders to prioritize education as a means of fostering a brighter future for Nigeria’s children, particularly in the Northwest states.

***Inspires Community

In an extraordinary act of generosity, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi, a retired civil servant in Kano State, has donated his entire gratuity, amounting to approximately N5 million, to fund the construction of a Jumat mosque in his hometown of Shangu, Rano Local Government Area.

The announcement was made by his son, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, the Village Head of Shangu, during a visit to the Emir of Rano, His Highness Ambassador Muhammad Isa Umaru.
The Zonal Information Officer in
Rano, Rabiu Khalil Kura in a statement quoted the family to have indicated that the donation, is aimed at creating a center for worship and instilling Islamic knowledge and moral discipline in the younger generation.
During the visit, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello informed the Emir about the donation and sought his permission and blessings for the project. “This mosque will serve not just as a place of worship but also as a hub for community development and the education of our youth,” he said.
The Emir of Rano, deeply moved by the gesture, commended Alhaji Bello Abdullahi for his selflessness and dedication to the cause of Islam and community progress. He granted his blessing for the project and urged the entire Shangu community to actively participate.
Emir Commends Generosity
“The emirate is always ready to support any initiative that promotes the cause of Islam,” said His Highness Ambassador Muhammad Isa Umaru. He emphasized that such acts of benevolence are rare and should inspire others to contribute toward the development of their communities.
The construction of the Jumat mosque is expected to serve Shangu and neighboring areas, providing a conducive space for worship and community gatherings. Residents have hailed Alhaji Bello Abdullahi’s donation as a powerful demonstration of faith and a call for unity and collective progress.
The mosque project is set to begin soon, marking a significant milestone in the history of the Shangu community.
This heartwarming story of selflessness underscored the power of individual actions in transforming communities and fostering a legacy of faith and development.

The legal tussle over the Kano emirship dispute has taken a new turn as the Sarki Dawakin Babba of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan’Agundi, vowed to challenge the Court of Appeal’s verdict at the Supreme Court.

Reacting to the Appeal Court’s recent decision, which overturned an earlier Federal High Court ruling, Dan’Agundi expressed strong dissatisfaction. He maintained that Aminu Ado Bayero remains the legitimate Emir of Kano and emphasized his resolve to pursue justice at the apex court.

The Appeal Court ruled that Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction over chieftaincy disputes, asserting such matters fall exclusively under state high courts. Despite this, Dan’Agundi urged the Kano State Government and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi not to celebrate the ruling prematurely, insisting that the final verdict lies with the Supreme Court.

The legal battle has reignited tensions in Kano’s traditional hierarchy, spotlighting the complexities of resolving chieftaincy conflicts within Nigeria’s legal framework.

Observers now await the Supreme Court’s decision, which is expected to set a defining precedent for emirship disputes in the country.