Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has launched a major education support initiative, distributing learning materials, vehicles, and motorcycles valued at ₦2.7 billion to public schools across the state.
At the flag-off event held in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday, the governor underscored his administration’s commitment to transforming the education sector. He described the gesture as part of a broader plan to reposition Kebbi as not just an agrarian state, but a thriving “education state.”
“Today, we are witnessing the distribution of over two million copies of books to primary and secondary schools across the state. This is in line with our mission to reposition education and make it accessible to every child in Kebbi,” Governor Idris stated.
The distribution includes a wide range of materials—textbooks, exercise books, computers, vehicles, and motorcycles—aimed at improving teaching and learning conditions in public schools. The governor also noted significant milestones already achieved under his watch, such as the renovation and furnishing of more than 2,000 schools, construction of mega schools across the four Emirates, and the release of ₦2 billion to cover registration fees for indigent students.
In addition, he announced the recruitment of 2,000 new teachers, adding to a total of 5,000 professionals employed across health, legal, and education sectors within two years. He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to teacher welfare, highlighting the successful implementation of the teachers’ retirement age extension policy, which was championed during his time as National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
To further enhance local education governance, professors of Kebbi origin have been appointed to lead Local Government Education Authorities. Each appointee has been provided with an official vehicle and upgraded allowances to support performance and accountability.
Commissioner for Education, Dr. Halima Bande, praised the governor’s efforts and urged school administrators and stakeholders to ensure proper use of the distributed materials. Her call was echoed by Hon. Garba Bena, Chairman of the State House Committee on Education, who pledged continued legislative support for education reforms in the state.
Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Suleiman Khalid-Jega, described the initiative as a groundbreaking move. He highlighted complementary developments such as the construction of over 1,000 classrooms, provision of boreholes, and deployment of digital tools to advance modern education practices.
Khalid-Jega further revealed that each School-Based Management Committee has received ₦200,000 to aid school-level development projects, while over 18,000 teachers and administrators have been trained to drive improved learning outcomes. He noted that Kebbi students are now outperforming the national average in Mathematics, English, and Basic Science—proof, he said, of a solid foundation being built for the state’s educational future.