Governor Yusuf and the Birth of Kano’s Golden Age in Education
There are leaders, and then there are visionaries—those who see beyond the present, who dream in colours brighter than the dawn. In Kano, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf stands as a beacon of transformation, his heart beating to the rhythm of progress.
Once again, his unwavering commitment to education has earned him a prestigious honour—this time, from the New Telegraph newspaper—a testament to his relentless pursuit of knowledge as the cornerstone of development.
But awards are mere echoes of impact. The true symphony of Yusuf’s governance plays in the halls of Kano’s rejuvenated classrooms, in the sharpened pencils of hopeful children, and in the laughter of young girls who now have a seat at the table of learning.
Education, to him, is not just a policy; it is a lifeline, a bridge between what is and what could be. From the moment he stepped into office, Yusuf’s priorities were as clear as the northern skies. He made education the crown jewel of his administration, allocating 29.9% of the 2024 budget and an even bolder 31% for 2025—exceeding UNESCO’s golden benchmark.
These figures are not just numbers; they are proof of a promise, inked into the very fabric of Kano’s future. And the results speak. Thousands of classrooms, once weary from neglect, now stand renewed, their walls whispering tales of hope.
Over 80,000 three-seater desks have found their way into schools, embracing over 240,000 students who once sat on bare floors. To tackle the ghost of illiteracy, Yusuf has built 130 new schools, distributed 789,000 uniforms across 7,092 public institutions, and extended the hand of opportunity to children who once stood at the margins of society.
Read Also:
Yet, perhaps his most poetic stroke is his devotion to the education of girls. In a land where tradition sometimes weighs heavier than change, he has turned barriers into bridges, offering N20,000 monthly stipends to 40,000 underprivileged girls—ensuring that poverty is no longer an excuse for stolen dreams.
Teachers, the architects of the future, have not been forgotten. Under his leadership, 5,500 volunteer educators have been granted permanent positions, while 20,500 others have climbed the rungs of promotion. Salary arrears, once a burden, have been cleared—because dignity, too, is part of education.
His vision stretches beyond the four walls of the classroom. With N1.3 billion, he has lifted the weight of NECO and NBTE registration fees off the shoulders of 57,000 indigent students, proving that no child should be denied knowledge due to circumstance.
Skills acquisition centers, long abandoned to dust and disrepair, have found new life—26 of them, including the Kano School of Informatics and Aliko Dangote Skills Acquisition Centre, now preparing young minds for a world that demands both intellect and craftsmanship.
The garment industry alone is set to birth over 63,000 jobs, sewing a future rich with opportunity. This is not the first time Yusuf has been lauded for his devotion to learning. The Nigeria Union of Teachers once draped him in the Golden Award for Outstanding Performance in Education Reform, recognizing his legacy in the making.
Now, the New Telegraph newspaper echoes that sentiment, a chorus of accolades singing in unison. But awards fade. What remains is the light he has kindled—the countless minds awakened, the dreams rewritten, the legacy etched in ink and action.
Kano’s children will grow under his watchful care, and long after the applause has settled, his impact will linger like the fragrance of rain on sun-scorched earth. For in the end, a governor is remembered not for the titles he bears but for the futures he builds.
And in the pages of Kano’s history, Abba Kabir Yusuf is writing his chapter in bold, unwavering strokes.
Abubakar Idris Musa is a PRNigeria Fellow and writes from Kano
