FG commissions bilingual boarding school in Kano to boost skills-based learning

The Federal Government has commissioned a new bilingual education boarding school in Kano State, reinforcing its strategy to strengthen human capital development through inclusive and skills-oriented learning.

The facility, officially named the ISDB–UBEC Bilingual Education Boarding School, is located in Kiru Local Government Area and is part of a nationwide programme aimed at expanding access to quality basic education, particularly in underserved communities.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, the Minister of State for Education, , described the project as a practical demonstration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education reform agenda, which places strong emphasis on equipping Nigerian children with relevant skills for global competitiveness.

She said the establishment of bilingual model schools across the country reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to integrating language proficiency with vocational and digital skills, noting that multilingual education enhances learners’ ability to thrive in diverse social and economic settings.

According to the minister, the initiative is also targeted at reducing the number of out-of-school children while improving learning outcomes through modern teaching methods. She urged host communities to take ownership of the facilities to ensure sustainability and effective use.

In her address at the occasion, Aisha Garba, executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), disclosed that the Kiru school is one of 30 bilingual education model schools being developed in nine states, with Kano hosting four centres in Doguwa, Ganduje, Ungoggo and Kiru.

She explained that the schools combine English and Arabic literacy with technical and vocational education, ICT-driven learning, and secure boarding facilities. Each centre, she added, is designed to accommodate more than 1,000 students and is equipped with academic, residential and support infrastructure.

Describing the commissioning as a milestone in the drive for inclusive education, Garba assured that UBEC would continue to support the schools through teacher deployment, effective management and regular monitoring.

Also speaking, the Director-General of Corporate Services at the Islamic Development Bank, Mohammed Simsim, alongside Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Faruk Ibrahim, pledged sustained collaboration to ensure optimal utilisation of the facility.

They expressed confidence that the school would expand access to quality education, enhance skills development and support ongoing efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Kano State and across Nigeria.