In a major boost for early childhood education in conflict-affected regions, four states Borno, Niger, Benue and Sokoto have endorsed the community-based Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) school model as a cost-effective strategy to enroll under-five children who are out of school.

The commitment was made at a National ECCD Roundtable convened by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). The high-level dialogue was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

The one-day roundtable drew participation from national curriculum planners at the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the Special Adviser to the Minister of State for Education, the Director of Research at NIPSS, Prof. Musa Umar, and top education managers from Kano State.

Setting the tone for adoption, the Technical Adviser on Education Reform to the Kano State Governor, Mallam Haladu Mohammed, announced that Kano State has adopted the dRPC community-based ECCD model for play-based learning.

Speaking on the sidelines of activities marking the International Day of the Girl Child, Mohammed described the model as cost-effective and scalable for expanding access.

Corroborating him, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the Kano State Ministry of Education confirmed his participation in the evaluation of dRPC’s eight-year community-based ECCD project being implemented by Prof. Bala Ado Kofar Mata of Bayero University, Kano.

According to him, the evaluation will provide empirical evidence on how play-based learning enhances child development and school readiness.

Speaking separately, the Commissioners of Education from Niger and Borno States, the Benue State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, and the Chairman of the Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) said the model was timely for states grappling with insecurity and displacement.

They pledged to initiate immediate steps to replicate the Kano experiment in their respective states.

Participants at the roundtable stressed that community-based approaches offer a viable alternative in underserved and displacement-affected communities where insecurity has disrupted conventional schooling.

In a major outcome, the Commissioners from Niger and Benue States invited the dRPC team to meet with their executive governors next week to present the model for formal adoption.

The development signals growing sub-national interest in community-driven, play-based learning as a sustainable solution for Nigeria’s youngest and most vulnerable learners.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Residents and business owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say extreme heat is harming their health, raising household expenses and disrupting businesses and livelihoods.

Residents who spoke to journalists said the intense heat had increased their dependence on electricity, water and other cooling measures, while inconsistent power supply made coping more difficult. They reported food spoilage, higher operating costs, changes to working hours and heat-related discomfort, particularly among households and people whose jobs expose them to direct sunlight.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in an advisory issued on October 23, warned Nigerians to prepare for hotter days, increased heat discomfort, dust and possible water scarcity as the country transitions from the rainy to the dry season. The agency identified dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke as health risks associated with excessive heat, warning that prolonged exposure could affect people’s health and productivity.

To reduce heat-related risks, NiMet advised Nigerians to drink water regularly, wear lightweight and breathable clothing, limit prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, especially during the hottest hours of the day, and schedule strenuous outdoor activities for cooler periods.

In Sokale community, Bwari Area Council, Patient Ndidi said coping with the heat had become an additional financial burden, particularly as a mother trying to keep her children comfortable while managing household expenses.

“The sun was so intense that it felt as though it was draining my blood. Even when the children returned from school, I had to tell them to go and take their baths because the heat was so much,” she said.

Mrs Ndidi said the situation had increased her household’s electricity consumption because the family needed to run fans for longer periods whenever power was available.

“We use more units now because whenever there is electricity, we tend to leave the fan on throughout the day. As a result, we are constantly recharging our prepaid meter,” she said.

She explained that inconsistent electricity supply had also made food preservation difficult, as cooked meals could easily spoil during prolonged power outages. According to her, foods such as egusi and groundnut soup, beans and other cooked meals were particularly difficult to preserve, forcing her to prepare smaller quantities that could be consumed at once. She said the adjustment had increased the frequency of cooking and sometimes resulted in food wastage, additional expenses and stress.

Mrs Ndidi added that when electricity was unavailable, members of her household sometimes poured water on their bodies for temporary relief.

“Actually, it has not helped us at all because once there is no electricity, you return to square one,” she said.

She called on the government to improve electricity supply and consider reducing tariffs to ease the financial burden on households.

Similarly, John Anthony, a resident of Kubwa, said coping with the heat was more challenging at home than at his workplace, where air-conditioning provided a comfortable environment.

“Office is not a problem at all; there is AC, so everywhere is always cool until we go home,” he said.

Mr Anthony said his family sometimes opened their windows and doors to improve ventilation while drinking sufficient water to cope with the heat. He urged the government to ensure a stable electricity supply so residents could use cooling appliances.

“Government should please help us to ensure there is stable light so that we will be able to cope and it will reduce it,” he said.

Another Kubwa resident, Ignatius Ikechukwu, a Point of Sale (POS) operator who works under the sun, described coping with the heat as challenging. He said drinking sufficient water was his main strategy for managing the situation while carrying out his daily activities.

“I do not joke with water at all,” he said.

The effects of the extreme heat have also extended to traders and other business owners, particularly those dealing in perishable goods and products requiring refrigeration.

In Jikwoyi, Lovina Obiyi, a trader dealing in provisions, foodstuffs and poultry, said the excessive heat had caused the loss of considerable quantities of poultry.

“We specialise in provisions, foodstuffs and poultry. Due to the heat, we have lost quite a good amount of chickens and turkeys to the point that we need to open the place for ventilation,” she said.

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has relieved Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya of his position as Commissioner for Information and reassigned him to the Ministry of Youth following the swearing-in of newly appointed commissioners.

The development is part of a ministerial reshuffle announced by the state government, which also involves the deployment of newly appointed commissioners to various ministries and the reassignment of some existing members of the State Executive Council.

Under the new arrangement, Waiya, who previously headed the Ministry of Information, has been moved to the Ministry of Youth, while Hon. Hamza Safyanu Kachako, who formerly served as Commissioner for Mineral Resources, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Environment.

The new portfolio allocations also saw Hon. Yushau Soja appointed Commissioner for Security, while Hon. Idris Garba Mustapha was assigned to the Ministry of Special Duties.

Similarly, Hon. Muntari Ishaq Yakasai has been posted to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, while Hon. Ibrahim Namadi Dala will oversee the Ministry of Commerce.

Hon. Ibrahim Tsanyawa has been assigned to the Ministry of Science and Technology as part of the new ministerial arrangement.

The reshuffle brings changes to the composition of the Kano State Executive Council as Governor Yusuf moves to accommodate the newly sworn-in commissioners and redistribute responsibilities among members of his cabinet.

The latest development also marks Waiya’s departure from the Information Ministry, which he had headed before his reassignment to the Youth Ministry.

The newly announced portfolios are as follows:

1. Ministry of Security: Hon. Yushau Soja.
2. Ministry of Special Duties:** Hon. Idris Garba Mustapha.
3. Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs: Hon. Muntari Ishaq Yakasai.
4. Ministry of Commerce: Hon. Ibrahim Namadi Dala.
5. Ministry of Science and Technology: Hon. Ibrahim Tsanyawa.
6. Ministry of Environment: Hon. Hamza Safyanu Kachako, moved from Mineral Resources.
7. Ministry of Youth:Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, moved from Information.