By Abdullahi Yusuf
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State on Monday flagged off the distribution of instructional materials worth N2.8 billion to public schools across the state.
A statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said the exercise is a major push to revamp the quality of education in the state.
Dawakin Tofa said the materials distributed included laboratory equipment, sportswear and sports kits, books, attendance registers and laptop computers aimed at enhancing both academic and extracurricular activities in the schools.
During the flag-off ceremony held at the Government House, Kano,he said, Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring the glory of education in the state.
“This is a strategic investment in the future of our children. We are not just equipping schools with books, but also with the tools needed for science, technology, physical development and digital learning,” he said.
He explained that the gesture is part of a broader education reform agenda of his administration.
He urged school administrators to ensure proper use and maintenance of the materials, noting that the government would monitor implementation to ensure that the resources reach the intended beneficiaries.
The governor also announced the recruitment of 17,600 security guards to be deployed across public schools in the state with immediate effect.
This,he said, is part of the government’s renewed efforts to strengthen safety in the schools.
He said 400 security personnel would be recruited and stationed in each of the state’s 44 local government areas.
According to him,the initiative is aimed at safeguarding the lives of students and teachers, and creating a safe learning environment across all the schools.
“This decision is borne out of our administration’s commitment to protect our children and teachers from emerging security threats.We cannot afford to allow fear or insecurity to disrupt the education of our future leaders,”Yusuf said.
He said the newly-recruited guards would be trained and strategically deployed to man school gates, monitor suspicious activities and coordinate with relevant security agencies where necessary.
The governor noted that security, education, and youth empowerment remain key pillars of his administration’s agenda.
He, therefore,urged parents, community leaders and traditional institutions to support the government’s efforts at ensuring safety in schools and promoting quality education for all.