Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Tuesday presented permanent and pensionable appointment letters to 4,900 newly recruited teachers, drawing commendation from the Federal Government for Kano State’s recruitment of about 16,000 teachers in the last three years.
The event, held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium, Kano, also featured the engagement of 3,688 Abba Gida Gida Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) Cohort V facilitators.
In his remarks, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described Kano’s investment in education as exemplary, saying the state had demonstrated an uncommon commitment to human capital development.
He said the recruitment of about 16,000 teachers within three years underscored Governor Yusuf’s resolve to address manpower shortages in schools and improve the quality of education.
“In three years, Kano has recruited about 16,000 teachers. This is a remarkable achievement. You have a governor who is investing heavily in education and building the future of Nigeria through human capital development,” the minister said.
Alausa also commended the governor for allocating about 32 per cent of the state’s budget to the education sector, describing the investment as a bold step towards improving access to quality education.
Presenting the appointment letters, Governor Yusuf said the exercise was not merely about employment but a strategic investment in the future of Kano’s children.
According to him, the newly recruited teachers emerged through a transparent and merit-based recruitment process and would strengthen teaching and learning across basic and secondary schools.
He said the 3,688 BESDA Cohort V facilitators were engaged for an initial nine-month period to sustain learning in vulnerable communities following the expiration of the BESDA programme, adding that outstanding performers would be considered for permanent appointment after assessment.
Yusuf said his administration had consistently prioritised education since assuming office, declaring a state of emergency in the sector in June 2024 and embarking on wide-ranging reforms.
He listed some of the interventions to include recruitment of over 13,000 teachers between May 2023 and June 2026, construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, provision of furniture and instructional materials, reopening of 15 boarding schools, establishment of six technical schools, promotion of girl-child education and payment of counterpart funds to access Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) interventions.
Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, described the recruitment as a significant investment in the future of Kano State, noting that UNESCO estimates a global shortage of over 44 million teachers.
She commended the Kano State Government for leading by example in teacher recruitment and reaffirmed UBEC’s commitment to supporting the state’s education reforms.
Earlier, Executive Chairman of the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Yusuf Kabir, said the recruitment followed a transparent, merit-based process guided by the state’s teacher recruitment policy, including aptitude tests and other assessment procedures to ensure only qualified and competent teachers were employed.
