* 12,675 vulnerable pupils to receive exercise books, pencils, school shoes and school bags— Gov. Discloses
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, has flagged off the disbursement of Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) to 5,075 beneficiaries, School Improvement Grants to 66 beneficiary schools, and the distribution of learning materials to vulnerable pupils across the state.
A statement signed by Ibrahim kaula Mohammad chief press secretary to the Governor said the Governor performed the flag-off on Tuesday at the TESS Conference Hall, Katsina metropolis, during a state-level sensitisation programme organised by the Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), for critical stakeholders in the education sector.
Governor Radda said the interventions were part of his administration’s determination to remove barriers to education and ensure that every child, irrespective of location, gender, social status or economic background, has access to inclusive and quality basic education.
“Education remains the bedrock of sustainable development and one of the most valuable investments any responsible government can make for the prosperity of its people,” Governor Radda said.
He explained that the CCT programme was designed to support poor and vulnerable households, encourage regular school attendance, reduce absenteeism, and discourage child labour and early marriage, which often contribute to school dropouts.
“Today’s event marks yet another important milestone in our determination to eliminate barriers to education, particularly amongvulnerable children,” the Governor stated.
Governor Radda further disclosed that 12,675 dozens of exercise books, 12,675 dozens of pencils, 12,675 pairs of school shoes and 12,675 school bags would be distributed to vulnerable and poor pupils.
He said the materials would not only benefit the 5,075 CCT beneficiaries, but would also reach other identified vulnerable and orphaned children who were not beneficiaries of the cash transfer programme.
“This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring that no deserving child is denied access to education because of poverty or lack of essential learning materials,” he said.
On the School Improvement Grant, the Governor said 66 primary schools would benefit from the intervention, which would enable School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) and school authorities to address priority needs, improve the learning environment and strengthen school management.
Governor Radda also disclosed that the recently recruited 2,500 teachers were selected based on community needs and merit, noting that the approach was in line with the call for stronger community participation in education.
“Let me inform the representative of UBEC that the recently recruited 2,500 teachers were recruited based on community needs and merit. I believe we are already keying into the initiative you have recommended,” he said.
The Governor appealed to education stakeholders, communities and other partners to join hands with government to ensure that every school-age child is enrolled, attends school regularly and receives quality education.
“Together, let us continue to build an educated, enlightened, peaceful and prosperous Katsina State,” Governor Radda said.
Earlier, the National Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC), Alhaji Abdullahi Umar, Wazirin Gwandu, commended the Katsina State Government for its commitment to improving the education sector, stressing that community participation remained critical to achieving sustainable educational development.
He recalled his experience as a former Commissioner for Education and said his visits to schools at the time exposed the serious challenges facing basic education, strengthening his conviction that communities must take ownership of their schools.
“One thing remains clear: communities must be involved. Another important factor is political will to engage communities and empower them to support their schools,” Gwandu said.
He commended the state government for its interventions, including teacher recruitment, training and the provision of teaching and learning materials, describing them as investments whose full impact would become evident over time.
“Any community that does not prepare its children to take over the reins of leadership in the future is a doomed community,” he warned.
On his part, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Hon. Yusuf Suleiman Jibia; appreciated Governor Radda for his continued commitment to the education sector and the implementation of interventions aimed at supporting vulnerable children and improving schools across the state.
He also disclosed that the recent teacher recruitment exercise was conducted based on community needs, assuring stakeholders that the government was taking steps to address teacher shortages where they were most needed.
Similarly, the UBEC Northwest Representative commended Governor Radda for the progress recorded in Katsina’s basic education sector, particularly in infrastructure development and teacher recruitment.
He urged the state government to sustain community-based teacher recruitment, saying the approach would help address the imbalance in teacher distribution between urban and rural communities.
“If Katsina State succeeds, the Northwest will succeed. If Katsina State fails, it will affect the progress of basic education across the Northwest,” he said.
He noted that recruiting qualified teachers from communities where vacancies exist would help ensure that teachers remain close to the schools and communities they serve.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Dr. Kabir Magaji Gafiya appreciated the Governor for his support and commitment to basic education, saying the interventions would contribute significantly to improving school attendance, retention and learning outcomes.
The Executive Secretary emphasised the importance of collaboration among government, SBMCs, communities, education officials and development partners in ensuring that the interventions achieve their intended objectives.
The event was attended by Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; Grand Khadi of Katsina State, Prof. Muhammad Kabir Abubakar; members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Katsina and Daura Emirates.
Also in attendance were representatives of UBEC Northwest and SUBEB, Members of SUBEB, Education Secretaries, representatives of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Local Government Chairmen.
