Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has successfully injected fresh momentum into a major multi-sector development partnership with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).
The breakthrough came during a high-level meeting in Kuwait City with the Fund's Director-General, Dr. Waleed Al-Bahar. The discussions focused on fast-tracking the $62.8 million Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) Programme and exploring new funding avenues for the state.
Major Strides in Education Recovery
Governor Sani provided a detailed update on the significant progress already made under the ROOSC initiative. This ambitious programme, supported by a consortium including KFAED, the Islamic Development Bank, and Save the Children International, aims to transform education in Kaduna.
Key achievements so far include:
- Identification and mapping of 79,275 out-of-school children across 14 Local Government Areas.
- Enrolment of 13,756 learners, surpassing the first-year target of 10,000.
- Training of 1,300 teachers to improve instructional quality.
- Distribution of more than 35,000 learning kits to pupils.
- Rehabilitation of 170 schools and construction of 102 new ones currently underway.
The Governor appealed for the swift disbursement of the next tranche of funds to maintain this pace. He emphasized that every week saved brings the state closer to providing safe, modern, and high-quality learning environments for thousands of children.
Expanding the Partnership Beyond Education
Looking beyond the classroom, Governor Sani presented Kaduna State's new priority areas for potential funding. He sought KFAED's support for a broader developmental agenda designed to uplift communities across the state.
The proposed areas include:
- Upgrading and solar electrification of between 255 and 500 Primary Healthcare Centres to boost healthcare access.
- Expansion of critical rural infrastructure like roads, electrification projects, water supply, and sanitation systems.
- A comprehensive agricultural modernisation drive. This will cover mechanisation, irrigation, climate-resilient inputs, processing centres, and agribusiness initiatives for youth and women.
Kuwait Fund Praises Kaduna's Governance, Commits to More Support
In response, Dr. Al-Bahar commended the Kaduna State Government for its transparency, reform-focused governance, and commitment to inclusive development. He expressed strong satisfaction with the progress reported on the ROOSC programme.
The Director-General welcomed the new proposals on health, agriculture, and infrastructure. He reaffirmed KFAED's readiness to explore additional support for these vital sectors, signalling a deepening of the strategic partnership.
The meeting, which also included senior KFAED officials like Operations Director Thamer Alfailakawi, concluded with a firm commitment from both sides. They agreed to fast-track all ongoing projects and broaden cooperation, aiming to positively transform the lives of millions of residents in Kaduna State.
