Esther Salifu
As part of efforts to ensure access to education, the Niger State Government has pledged to spend over 50 per cent of its 2025 budget on education and health.
The state governor, Mohammed Bago, disclosed on Wednesday while distributing kitchen utensils to boarding schools and classroom furniture at the Educational Resource Centres, Minna.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, the governor emphasised that his priority is to ensure that access to quality education is provided from the basic to the tertiary level.
He said About half of the 2025 budget will go to the Education and Health sectors. We are committed to providing quality education and healthcare services to our citizens,” Governor Bago stated during the distribution of kitchen utensils and classroom furniture to boarding schools.
“About half of the 2025 budget will go to the Education and Health sectors. N1.8 billion has been earmarked as a matching grant to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
“My administration is committed to the timely payment of counterpart funds to support educational projects in the state. Through our partnership with the World Bank Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme, we intend to expand access to education for girl-child and renovate 534 schools across the state.
“Also, given the importance of technical and vocational education, the sum of N1.512 billion was earmarked for the complete renovation and equipping of technical schools in Suleja.
The governor disclosed that N1.8 billion has been earmarked as a matching grant to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and emphasized his administration’s commitment to timely payment of counterpart funds to support educational projects. N1.512 billion for renovation and equipping of technical schools in Suleja, Partnership with World Bank’s Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme. Renovation of 534 schools across the state, 43 active boarding schools under government’s direct feeding programme.
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hadiza Mohammed, described the distribution of kitchen utensils as a significant step in enhancing education in the state.The distributed items include 5,000 litre water storage tanks,Frying-pans, Plastic drums, grinding machines, cooking pots and plastics trays, buckets, serving spoons, and more.
Governor Bago commended the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and stakeholders for their support in revamping the education sector, urging them to continue their efforts.
