By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Kano State Government has employed 8,588 education personnel to address shortage of teachers and improve learning in schools across the state.
The employees comprise 4,900 permanent and pensionable teachers and 3,688 BESDA Cohort facilitators, whom were given their appointment letters by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Tuesday.
Presenting the appointment letters to the beneficiaries at a ceremony held at the Indoor Sports Arena of the Sani Abacha Stadium,Kano,Yusuf described the event as a milestone in the state’s education reform agenda.
He said the recruitment of the education personnel was about securing the future of millions of children in the state through the provision of qualitative education.
“Today is much more than a recruitment exercise. It is about the hopes and aspirations of millions of our children whose dreams depend on the quality of education they receive,” he said.
The Governor recalled that his administration had declared a state of emergency on education in June 2024 and had since embarked on wide-ranging reforms, including schools rehabilitation, teacher recruitment, expansion of technical education, and improved access to learning materials.
He disclosed that between May 2023 and June 2026, the state had recruited more than 13,000 qualified teachers, with the latest batch of 4,900 permanently employed teachers marking another milestone.
He also announced that the 3,688 BESDA Abba Gida – Gida Cohort V facilitators would be engaged for an initial nine-month period, after which successful participants could be considered for permanent employment following formal assessment.
“Every classroom deserves a qualified, competent, and committed teacher. Your appointment is a call to service to shape the minds, character and future of the next generation,” Yusuf said.
He said his administration had also invested heavily in classroom construction and renovation, supplied school furniture and instructional materials, reopened 15 boarding schools, established six technical schools, supported girl-child and inclusive education, and consistently paid counterpart funds to access UBEC intervention projects.
He pledged his administration’s continued collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, WAEC, NECO and development partners to improve education the state.
In his address at the occasion,The Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, commended the governor for his administration’s unprecedented investment in education, disclosing that Kano State had recruited about 16,000 teachers and facilitators within three years.
“You have a performing governor. In three years, Kano has recruited about 16,000 teachers. This is human capital development, and it is the foundation for building Nigeria,” Alausa said.
He also praised the state government’s investment in infrastructure and urged the newly-recruited teachers to justify the confidence reposed in them.
The event was also attended by the Minister of State for Education Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC),Aisha Garba, and other education stakeholders.