By Janet Sam
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, has commended the Kano State Government for its sustained investment in education, describing the recruitment of thousands of teachers as a critical step toward improving learning outcomes and strengthening the basic education system.
Garba made the remarks during a series of education engagements in Kano State, according to a statement by UBEC, where she joined the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to inspect UBEC-supported projects and witness the presentation of appointment letters to newly recruited teachers.
She said the commission’s interventions in Kano have gone beyond infrastructure, noting that nearly 4,000 classrooms have been constructed across the state under the Renewed Hope Agenda to improve access to quality education and provide pupils with safer and more conducive learning environments.
Garba, however, stressed that physical infrastructure alone cannot transform education without qualified teachers to deliver quality instruction.
According to her, the Kano State Government’s recruitment of more than 16,000 teachers under the current administration demonstrates a commitment to addressing teacher shortages and ensuring that children, particularly those in underserved communities, receive quality education.
She noted that the recruitment exercise aligns with the Federal Government’s objective of improving foundational learning across the country.
“The directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is clear. No child should be left behind. Every Nigerian child deserves access to quality education. Even where classrooms exist, without teachers, children cannot learn. That is why investments in teachers are investments in the future of our nation,” she said.
The UBEC Executive Secretary added that every appointment letter issued to the newly recruited teachers represents renewed hope for thousands of children whose future depends on access to competent and committed educators.
She also pointed out that the exercise comes at a time when UNESCO estimates that more than 44 million teachers are needed globally to close the existing teacher gap, describing Kano’s approach as a practical response to one of the world’s major education challenges.
Garba commended Governor Yusuf for prioritising education through investments in school infrastructure, teacher recruitment and other reforms aimed at improving the quality of basic education.
She also praised the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, for driving reforms designed to strengthen Nigeria’s education sector.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Malam Yusuf Kabir, said the recruitment followed a transparent and merit-based process supported by the state’s Teacher Policy, which introduced aptitude tests and other assessment procedures to ensure only qualified candidates were employed.
Kabir said the state would ensure the newly recruited teachers are properly deployed, supervised and continuously monitored to enhance teaching quality and improve learning outcomes across schools.
He also called on communities, development partners and other stakeholders to support government efforts, stressing that sustainable improvements in basic education require collective responsibility.
UBEC reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with state governments to expand access to quality basic education through continued investments in school infrastructure, teacher development and learner-centred interventions across Nigeria.
