Kaduna State has reaffirmed education as the most critical investment for the future of Northern Nigeria, as Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, representing Governor Uba Sani, officially opened the 20th Meeting of the Forum of Commissioners of Education from the 19 northern states.
Speaking at Bafra Hotel, the Deputy Governor emphasized the administration’s commitment to human capital development as the foundation for sustainable growth. She highlighted key achievements, including the return of over 300,000 out-of-school children to classrooms, the construction of more than 2,300 classrooms, and the training of over 33,000 teachers.
She also raised concerns over the region’s education crisis, noting that nearly 70% of Nigeria’s 18 million out-of-school children are in the North. According to her, this challenge continues to fuel insecurity, weaken public health systems, and expose vulnerable youth to exploitation.
Reinforcing the importance of unity, she described the Students Exchange Programme (SEP), established in 1967 and hosted by Kaduna, as a vital tool for integration and peacebuilding. She called on northern states to recommit to the programme, expand participation, and modernize it to include digital skills and conflict resolution.
“Expanding SEP is not an act of generosity; it is a strategic investment in a more stable and prosperous region,” she stated.
The meeting, attended by Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Professor Emeritus Abubakar Sani Sambo, and delegates from across the region, will continue through April 22.
