The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa has disclosed that the present administration inherited 36 abandoned and poorly executed e-library projects across Unity Colleges.
The minister, however, noted that through the intervention of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), 16 of the facilities have now been fully rehabilitated, reflecting the Federal Government’s determination to provide Nigerian children with education that meets global standards.
Alausa disclosed this while commissioning a newly renovated digital e-library at Federal Government College, Kano, during a strategic inspection of major Federal Government education projects in Kano State.
The minister was accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, the Executive Secretary of NERDC, senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and the Kano State Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna.
The modern e-library at FGC Kano is equipped with solar power, air conditioning, quality lighting and nearly 80 digital computer workstations to provide students with a world-class environment to develop essential digital literacy skills.
Speaking on infrastructure financing, the Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the Public Private Partnership Land Swap initiative at the college.
He explained that responsibly leveraging underutilised land will generate resources needed to provide better classrooms, hostels and other critical infrastructure for students.
“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,” Alausa said.
He added that the Federal Government remains open to engaging the college’s old students and other stakeholders who are willing to support the development of the institution through similar partnerships.
The inspection also covered the Bilingual School in Ungogo, where the Minister expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, noting that the project has reached about 90 percent completion and is on course for delivery on or before 31 August, 2026.
He directed that preparations for teacher recruitment and other operational requirements begin immediately to ensure that the school receives its first set of learners when it opens in September.
Alausa disclosed that preparations are underway to commence academic activities in a third bilingual school 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 most impactful responses to the out-of-school children challenge, explaining that the schools are designed to integrate Almajiri and other vulnerable children into formal education.
According to the Minister, the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative has continued to deliver encouraging results, with more than one million out-of-school children returned to classrooms within the last 24 months.
At the JICA-supported Junior Secondary School in Lenge, Tofa Local Government Area, the Minister inspected ongoing construction of classrooms, perimeter fencing and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene facilities.
He announced that upon completion, the junior secondary school would relocate to the new structures, while the existing buildings would be converted into a primary school.
He noted that the Federal Government will also support the furnishing of the primary school and undertake additional renovation works to create a more conducive environment for teaching and learning.
The Minister also visited the National Commission for Mass Education, Kano Office, and Tarda Smart School, where he assessed programmes aimed at strengthening foundational learning, expanding access to education, promoting digital innovation and supporting lifelong learning.
One of the highlights of the inspection was an interaction with a student innovator who presented an Artificial Intelligence-powered school application designed to enhance teaching and learning, improve communication between schools and parents, monitor attendance and assignments, and provide students with access to learning materials from home.
Commending the creativity and practical value of the innovation, Alausa directed the UBEC Director of Digital Platforms and Analytics to engage with the student and explore avenues for supporting the development of the application.
Also speaking, the Kano State Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna, commended the Federal Government for its sustained interventions in the state’s education sector and described the partnership between both governments as instrumental to ongoing improvements in access, infrastructure and learning outcomes.
He noted that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s declaration of a state of emergency in education and sustained budgetary allocations demonstrate the state’s commitment to transforming the sector.
