The Federal Government has commissioned a renovated digital e-library at the Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, and announced plans to expand its bilingual school initiative as part of efforts to improve access to quality education and reduce the number of out-of-school children.
According to Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser (Media and Communications) to the Minister of Education in a Statement, the Minister, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an inspection of major Federal Government education projects and institutions across Kano State.
Accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, and other senior education officials, Alausa visited the Bilingual School in Ungogo, the JICA-supported Junior Secondary School in Lenge, Tofa Local Government Area, Federal Government College, Kano, the National Commission for Mass Education (NMEC) office and Tarda Smart School.
At the Bilingual School in Ungogo, the minister said construction had reached about 90 per cent completion and expressed confidence that the project would be delivered on or before August 31, 2026.
He directed that recruitment of teachers and other operational preparations begin immediately to enable the school admit its first set of learners in September.
Alausa also announced that a third bilingual school would commence academic activities at the beginning of the 2026 academic session, while a fourth is expected to become operational by June 2027.
He described the bilingual school initiative as one of the Federal Government’s key interventions to address the out-of-school children crisis by integrating Almajiri and other vulnerable children into formal education.
According to him, the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative has returned more than one million out-of-school children to classrooms within the last 24 months.
He added that the government’s focus extends beyond enrolment to ensuring pupils remain in school through improved teaching, enhanced learning environments and better educational outcomes.
At the JICA-supported Junior Secondary School in Lenge, the minister inspected ongoing construction of classrooms, perimeter fencing and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities.
He disclosed that the junior secondary school would relocate to the new structures upon completion, while the existing buildings would be converted into a primary school, with the Federal Government providing furniture and carrying out additional renovation works.
At the Federal Government College, Kano, Alausa commissioned a newly upgraded digital e-library equipped with solar power, air conditioning, improved lighting and about 80 digital computer workstations.
He described the facility as a major step towards equipping students with digital literacy skills required in a technology-driven world.
The minister revealed that the present administration inherited 36 abandoned or poorly executed e-library projects in Unity Colleges, noting that 16 of the facilities had now been fully rehabilitated through the intervention of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
He also interacted with students of the college, commending their confidence, communication skills and academic performance.
On the proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) land swap initiative at the college, Alausa said the policy would enable government to leverage underutilised land to generate resources for the construction of classrooms, hostels and other critical infrastructure.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that every policy translates into better opportunities for our students. We have no interest other than providing quality education and improved infrastructure for Nigerian children,” he said.
The minister added that the Federal Government remained open to partnerships with alumni associations and other stakeholders willing to support the development of educational institutions.
During the inspection, Alausa also visited the National Commission for Mass Education office in Kano and Tarda Smart School, where he assessed programmes aimed at strengthening foundational learning, expanding access to education and promoting digital innovation.
A highlight of the visit was the presentation of an Artificial Intelligence-powered school application developed by a student to improve teaching, learning, communication between schools and parents, attendance monitoring and access to learning materials.
Impressed by the innovation, the minister directed UBEC’s Director of Digital Platforms and Analytics to engage the student and explore ways of supporting further development of the application.
Earlier, the Kano State Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna, commended the Federal Government for its sustained interventions in the state’s education sector, describing collaboration between the federal and state governments as critical to improving access, infrastructure and learning outcomes.
He said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s declaration of a state of emergency in education and increased budgetary allocations underscored the state’s commitment to transforming the sector.
Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to implementing reforms aimed at expanding access to quality education, strengthening digital learning, modernising infrastructure and building a future-ready education system under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
