Jane Salihu
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding digital learning, tackling the out-of-school children crisis and upgrading educational infrastructure, with the commissioning of a renovated digital e-library at the Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, alongside renewed support for the controversial land swap initiative at the institution.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, stated this during an inspection of major Federal Government education projects in Kano State, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.
Accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, top officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), and the Kano State Government, the minister visited the Bilingual School in Ungogo, the JICA-supported Junior Secondary School in Lenge, Federal Government College, Kano, the National Commission for Mass Education office and Tarda Smart School.
At the Bilingual School in Ungogo, Alausa expressed satisfaction with the pace of construction, saying the project had reached about 90 per cent completion and would be ready for academic activities before the end of August. He directed that teacher recruitment and other preparations begin immediately ahead of the school’s planned September opening.
The minister disclosed that another bilingual school would commence academic activities during the 2026 academic session, while a fourth school is expected to become operational by June 2027.
He described the bilingual school initiative as one of the Federal Government’s flagship interventions aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children by integrating Almajiri and other vulnerable children into the formal education system.
According to the minister, the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative has returned more than one million out-of-school children to classrooms over the past two years, adding that the government’s focus is now on ensuring they remain in school through improved teaching standards and better learning environments.
At the JICA-supported Junior Secondary School in Lenge, Tofa Local Government Area, Alausa inspected ongoing classroom, fencing and water, sanitation and hygiene projects. He announced plans to convert the existing school buildings into a primary school after the junior secondary section relocates to newly completed facilities.
The minister also commissioned the upgraded digital e-library at Federal Government College, Kano, describing it as a major step towards equipping students with the digital skills required in a technology-driven world.
He said the facility, powered by solar energy and fitted with modern equipment, including about 80 computer workstations, reflects the Federal Government’s determination to modernise learning in Unity Colleges.
Alausa revealed that the present administration inherited 36 abandoned e-library projects across Federal Government Colleges, noting that 16 have so far been completed through interventions by the Universal Basic Education Commission.
Addressing concerns over the proposed Public-Private Partnership land swap initiative at Federal Government College, Kano, the minister insisted that the policy would proceed, stressing that underutilised land would be responsibly leveraged to generate resources for improved classrooms, hostels and other critical infrastructure.
He maintained that every decision of the ministry is guided by the best interests of Nigerian students and expressed readiness to work with alumni associations and other stakeholders willing to contribute to the institution’s development.
The minister also commended a student innovator who developed an Artificial Intelligence-powered school application designed to improve teaching, communication between schools and parents, attendance monitoring and access to learning materials. He directed officials of UBEC to engage the student and explore ways of supporting the innovation.
The statement added that Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to implementing practical reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to expand access to quality education, strengthen digital learning, modernise infrastructure and build a future-ready education system for Nigerian learners.
