Network pushes 15% capital expenditure for girl-child education
Kano State government has unveiled plans to recruit newly graduated postgraduate scholars into its civil service to fill existing vacancies and address manpower deficits in critical sectors to accelerate robust development.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf dropped the hint while presenting academic certificates to 110 indigenes who have just completed their postgraduate degrees under the state’s Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme.
 
The 110 foreign-trained postgraduate scholars, who specialised in engineering, pharmacy, sciences, ICT, and advanced technology, were part of the 1,001 beneficiaries of the foreign education programme sent to India, Uganda, and Malaysia to pursue their higher degrees.
 
The governor said the priority placed on foreign and local postgraduate scholarships is intended to stimulate accelerated growth in several sectors of the economy currently facing manpower deficits.
 
Yusuf said he is delighted the beneficiaries have been exposed to global perspectives and educational standards that would empower them to think differently, act boldly, and solve problems creatively in the society.

In their votes of thanks, one of the parents, Hajiya Zuwaira Sanusi, and two of the foreign scholars, Yusuf Muhammad and Hauwa Muhammad, expressed gratitude to the governor for positively transforming their lives.
 
They appealed to the government to sustain the scheme to enable more children from poor families to benefit from the programme.

IN a related development, the Malala Fund’s Education Champion Network (ECN) has called for a minimum of 15 per cent capital expenditure in the budgetary allocation for girl-child education in Kano State to improve the learning environment for girls.
 
In addition to increased funding, the ECN advocated the recruitment of more female teachers, the provision of sanitary facilities, and the creation of a safe school environment to encourage girl-child enrolment in public schools across the state.
 
Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on girl-child education financing in Kano, ECN Project Policy and Research Analyst, Ibukunolu James, noted that available data indicated that less than five per cent had been allocated to capital expenditure for girl-child education in the state since 2023.
 
James explained that the ECN project, under the Malala Fund and BudgIT, is undertaking advocacy engagements with critical stakeholders to influence government policies that support and improve girl-child education in the state.
 
She emphasised that the project focuses on mobilising community and religious leaders to champion the provision of infrastructure and educational materials that would encourage the enrolment of girls in schools across Kano.
 
In her remarks, the Head of Research and Policy Advisory, Adejoke Akinbode, explained that the ECN project, being implemented in Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, and Oyo states, tracks the impact and accountability of budget allocations for girl-child education.