By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has commissioned a newly upgraded digital e-library at the Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, while reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to the proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) land swap initiative aimed at improving infrastructure in Unity Colleges.
Speaking during an inspection of key Federal Government education projects in Kano State on Monday, Dr. Alausa said the land swap policy would unlock resources for the construction of modern classrooms, hostels and other critical facilities without compromising the interests of students.
He stressed that the initiative remained on course, noting that the Ministry’s priority is to provide quality education and better learning environments for Nigerian children.
“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, accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, alongside top officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, NERDC and the Kano State Government, also inspected the Bilingual School in Ungogo, the JICA-supported Junior Secondary School in Lenge, Tofa Local Government Area, the National Mass Education Commission (NMEC) office and Tarda Smart School.
At the Bilingual School in Ungogo, the minister disclosed that the project was about 90 per cent completed and would be ready for commissioning by the end of August, with academic activities expected to commence in September. He directed that teacher recruitment and other operational preparations begin immediately.
He said the Federal Government was also preparing to open a third bilingual school in the new academic session, while a fourth school is expected to become operational by June 2027.
According to him, the bilingual school initiative is a key strategy for addressing Nigeria’s out-of-school children challenge by integrating Almajiri and other vulnerable children into the formal education system.
He revealed that more than one million out-of-school children have returned to classrooms in the last 24 months under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, adding that government efforts are now focused on improving learning outcomes through better teaching and enhanced learning environments.
At Federal Government College, Kano, Dr. Alausa described the renovated e-library as a major milestone in the government’s digital education agenda. The facility, powered by solar energy and equipped with nearly 80 computer workstations, is designed to strengthen students’ digital literacy and prepare them for a technology-driven future.
He noted that the current administration inherited 36 abandoned e-library projects across Unity Colleges but has successfully rehabilitated 16 of them through the intervention of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
The Minister also praised students of the college for their confidence and academic performance, describing them as a reflection of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to human capital development.
At the JICA-supported Junior Secondary School in Lenge, he inspected ongoing construction works and announced that the existing school buildings would be converted into a primary school after the junior secondary school relocates to its new facilities. He added that the Federal Government would support the furnishing and renovation of the primary school.
One of the highlights of the visit was the presentation of an Artificial Intelligence-powered school application developed by a student to improve teaching, learning and communication between schools and parents. Impressed by the innovation, Dr. Alausa directed UBEC’s Director of Digital Platforms and Analytics to engage the student with a view to supporting further development of the application.
Earlier, the Kano State Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna, commended the Federal Government for its sustained investment in the state’s education sector, noting that the collaboration between both governments continues to improve access to quality education, infrastructure and learning outcomes.
