Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has advocated high standard girl-child education as part of the cardinal objectives of his administration.
He spoke at the weekend through his Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Ya’u Yan’shana, during a session with citizens and relevant stakeholders on the girls’ education -a programme supported by PERL (ECP).
He noted that educational development in Kano State is a critical task and part of the visions and missions of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The governor pointed out that the Kano State Ministry of Education would do everything possible to ensure the timely release of funds allocated for girl-child education.
He commended Girls Education Partnership (GEP), with support from PERL for their commitment, and urged philanthropists to assist in developing female education.
Former Head of Service and co-chair GEP, who is also Special Adviser to the governor on Free and Compulsory Education, Dr Kabiru Shehu, said the partnership is a coalition of citizens, women groups, government officials and the media.
He urged the Commissioner for Education to expedite action on pending issues, saying that GEP had assisted the Kano State Ministry of Education to achieve success in girls’ education.
“We would be sending our mails without the normal bureaucracy as we are part of the ministry,” he stated.
In his presentation entitled “Girls’ Education Partnership; The Journey So Far,” Comrade Safiyanu Lawan Bichi of the Kano budget working group and member GEP, pointed out that the coalition had recorded tremendous achievements since its inception.
He said: “GEP had organised and disseminated findings on public policy dialogue on insecurity, dialogue on cultural issues that impede girls’ education in three pilot schools and advocacy visits to five emirate councils, among others.
“Creation of girls’ education budget line in 2022 state budget, dedicating a unit for girls education, payment of N199 million for the National Examinations Council (NECO) fees for some selected girls, were part of the government’s support to the partnership.”