Kano State Government Unveils Plan to Recruit Foreign-Trained Scholars
The Kano State government has announced a strategic initiative to recruit newly graduated postgraduate scholars into its civil service. This move is designed to fill existing vacancies and address significant manpower deficits in critical sectors, thereby accelerating robust development across the state. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf revealed this plan during a ceremony where he presented academic certificates to 110 indigenes who have completed their postgraduate degrees under the state's Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme.
Details of the Scholarship Programme and Recruitment
The 110 foreign-trained postgraduate scholars, who specialized in fields such as engineering, pharmacy, sciences, ICT, and advanced technology, were part of a larger group of 1,001 beneficiaries. These scholars pursued their higher degrees in countries including India, Uganda, and Malaysia. Governor Yusuf emphasized that the priority placed on both foreign and local postgraduate scholarships is intended to stimulate accelerated growth in various sectors of the economy currently facing shortages of skilled personnel.
He expressed delight that the beneficiaries have been exposed to global perspectives and educational standards, which will empower them to think differently, act boldly, and solve problems creatively within society. In response, one of the parents, Hajiya Zuwaira Sanusi, along with two scholars, Yusuf Muhammad and Hauwa Muhammad, expressed gratitude to the governor for positively transforming their lives. They appealed to the government to sustain the scholarship scheme to enable more children from poor families to benefit from the programme.
Malala Fund Advocates for Girl-Child Education Funding
In a related development, the Malala Fund's Education Champion Network (ECN) has called for a minimum of 15 per cent capital expenditure in the budgetary allocation for girl-child education in Kano State. This initiative aims to improve the learning environment for girls by enhancing infrastructure and resources. The ECN also advocated for the recruitment of more female teachers, the provision of sanitary facilities, and the creation of a safe school environment to encourage girl-child enrolment in public schools across the state.
Speaking at a stakeholders' engagement on girl-child education financing in Kano, Ibukunolu James, the ECN Project Policy and Research Analyst, noted that available data indicated that less than five per cent had been allocated to capital expenditure for girl-child education in the state since 2023. James explained that the ECN project, under the Malala Fund and BudgIT, is undertaking advocacy engagements with critical stakeholders to influence government policies that support and improve girl-child education.
She emphasized that the project focuses on mobilising community and religious leaders to champion the provision of infrastructure and educational materials that would encourage the enrolment of girls in schools across Kano. In her remarks, Adejoke Akinbode, the Head of Research and Policy Advisory, added that the ECN project is being implemented in multiple states, including Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, and Oyo, to track the impact and accountability of budget allocations for girl-child education.
