FG commissions upgraded e-library in FGC Kano, reaffirms commitment to land swap project
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Federal Government has advanced implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Education in Kano State, commissioning an upgraded digital e-library at Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, while reaffirming its commitment to the proposed Public-Private Partnership land swap initiative at the college.
The Special Adviser, Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, said in a statement that the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, made the disclosures during a strategic inspection of major federal education projects in the state, accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, the Executive Secretaries of UBEC and NERDC, and the Kano State Commissioner for Education.
The inspection covered the Bilingual School in Ungogo, the JICA-supported Junior Secondary School in Lenge, Tofa Local Government Area, FGC Kano, the NMEC Kano Office and Tarda Smart School.
At Ungogo, Dr Alausa said the bilingual school project was about 90 percent complete and on course for delivery by 31 August 2026, directing that teacher recruitment begin immediately ahead of its September opening.
He disclosed that a third bilingual school was being readied for the 2026 academic session, with a fourth expected by June 2027, describing the initiative as a key response to the out-of-school children challenge by integrating Almajiri and other vulnerable children into formal education.
He said the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative had returned more than one million out-of-school children to classrooms in the last 24 months.
At Lenge, the Minister inspected ongoing construction of classrooms, fencing and WASH facilities, announcing the junior secondary school would relocate to the new structures on completion, while the existing buildings would become a primary school with federal support for furnishing and renovation.
Commissioning the FGC Kano e-library, Dr Alausa described it as a milestone in preparing students for a digital future. The facility, equipped with solar power, air conditioning and nearly 80 computer workstations, was among 16 of 36 previously abandoned Unity College e-library projects now rehabilitated under UBEC’s intervention.
On the land swap initiative, Dr Alausa reaffirmed the Government’s commitment, explaining that leveraging underutilised land would generate resources for better classrooms and hostels.
“We have no interest other than providing quality education and improved infrastructure for Nigerian children,” he said, adding that Government remained open to engaging old students and stakeholders on similar partnerships.
The Minister also visited the NMEC Kano Office and Tarda Smart School, and interacted with a student innovator who presented an AI-powered school application, directing UBEC’s Director of Digital Platforms and Analytics to explore support for the project.
Kano State Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna, commended the Federal Government’s interventions, noting that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s declaration of a state of emergency in education reflected the state’s commitment to reform.
Dr Alausa reaffirmed the Ministry’s focus on better schools, teachers and opportunities for every Nigerian child under the Renewed Hope Agenda.