The Kano State Independent Students Consultative Forum has praised the administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf for what it described as “transformational achievements” in the education sector, saying the government has repositioned Kano as a national leader in educational development and academic performance.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Kano Press Centre, the Chairman of the Forum, Abubakar Sa’ad, said the administration’s investment in education between 2023 and 2026 has reversed years of neglect and restored confidence in the state’s public education system.

Addressing journalists, Sa’ad described the reforms as “the Abba Gida-Gida impact,” noting that the achievements were driven by “results, not rhetoric.”

According to him, one of the administration’s most significant achievements is its unprecedented financial commitment to education. He stated that while UNESCO recommends that governments allocate between 15 and 20 percent of their budgets to education, the Kano State Government consistently exceeded that benchmark by dedicating more than 30 percent annually to the sector.

He disclosed that in 2024, the state allocated 29.95 percent of its budget to education, while the 2026 budget earmarked over N400 billion — representing between 30 and 31 percent of total expenditure — for educational development.

Sa’ad also highlighted massive infrastructural expansion across the state, revealing that the government constructed mega primary schools and more than 1,000 classrooms across the 44 local government areas to tackle overcrowding and improve enrollment.

He added that boarding schools previously shut down by past administrations had been reopened, thereby restoring access to education for thousands of students, especially in rural communities.

The students’ leader further explained that the state government approved the renovation of primary and secondary schools and complemented the effort with the distribution of over 200,000 pieces of furniture, free uniforms, and writing materials to pupils from low-income families.

On tertiary education, the forum commended the reopening of rural higher institutions that had been closed in previous years, alongside ongoing infrastructure upgrades at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology and North West University.

Sa’ad noted that the government also inaugurated a 14-member committee in early 2025 to establish Gaya Polytechnic, aimed at expanding technical and vocational education opportunities for youths in the state.

The forum equally praised the administration for prioritizing student welfare through the removal of financial barriers to education.

According to Sa’ad, the government spent over N1.5 billion on the payment of WAEC and NECO examination fees for students, while also sponsoring 1,001 postgraduate students abroad for Master’s degree programmes with full tuition and allowances.

He added that the government approved N144 million for the distribution of free educational support materials to over 20,000 indigenous candidates preparing for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The chairman further stated that the administration introduced a 50 percent reduction in tuition fees across all state-owned tertiary institutions and rehabilitated school buses to support girls’ education and improve safe transportation to schools.

In strengthening the education workforce, Sa’ad disclosed that over 20,000 qualified teachers had been recruited by the government, alongside the regular supply of instructional materials to schools.

He also detailed a N5.5 billion education intervention package approved by the State Executive Council in 2025 for various projects, including debt settlements for boarding school feeding suppliers, renovation of Government Technical College Ungogo, procurement of office furniture for Northwest University Kano, accreditation exercises at Kano State Polytechnic, and the completion of an e-library at the Kano State College of Education and Preliminary Studies.

The forum also commended the government’s administrative reforms, particularly the merger of the Ministry of Higher Education with the Ministry of Education in March 2026 to improve coordination, eliminate duplication of responsibilities, and enhance policy implementation across all levels of learning.

Sa’ad stated that the reforms had already begun yielding measurable outcomes, pointing out that Kano emerged as the best-performing state in the 2025 NECO rankings, surpassing traditionally strong states such as Lagos State and Oyo State.

He further claimed that in the 2026 June/July Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, over 68,000 candidates from Kano obtained five credits and above, including Mathematics and English, maintaining the state’s leading academic position nationwide.

Despite the commendations, the forum acknowledged that challenges still exist in some schools, particularly in areas such as teacher-to-student ratios, water supply, and sanitation facilities.

However, Sa’ad expressed confidence that the administration remained committed to addressing the gaps through sustained investment and partnerships.

Beyond education, the students’ body declared its support for Governor Yusuf’s second-term ambition, arguing that the administration had demonstrated commitment to the welfare and advancement of students across the state.

The forum also condemned political violence and thuggery, warning that insecurity could undermine educational progress and social stability in Kano State.

“We categorically condemn any politician sponsoring thuggery or violence in Kano State. Education cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity,” Sa’ad stated, while urging security agencies to investigate and prosecute sponsors of violence without bias.

He concluded by saying that the administration had laid a solid educational foundation for future generations through strategic investments in infrastructure, teacher recruitment, scholarships, tuition reduction, and examination support.

According to him, Kano State is gradually reclaiming its historic position as a leader in Nigeria’s education sector through deliberate policies and sustained commitment to human capital development.