The Katsina State Government has collaborated with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment to distribute grants totaling N4.4 billion to 100 secondary schools within the state.
The ceremonial event took place on Wednesday at the Government Secondary School, Doro, in the Bindawa Local Government Area.
The substantial funding, earmarked for the refurbishment of an additional 100 junior and senior secondary schools as part of the ‘Large Grant – Phase II initiative,’ aims to elevate the standard of education and foster development across the state.
Governor Dikko Radda affirmed his administration’s unwavering dedication to enhancing educational infrastructure, emphasizing the commitment to providing students with an optimal learning environment.
The governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media, Isah Miqdad, conveyed this commitment in a tweet on Wednesday, quoting Governor Dikko Radda as saying, “Our administration will not relent in achieving excellence in education and providing students with well-equipped classrooms and facilities that encourage learning and foster creativity.”
The Commissioner of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Hadiza Yaradua, explained that the N44 million allocated to each beneficiary school aims to address prevalent challenges, including dilapidated structures, insufficient classroom furniture, and inadequate learning materials.
Yaradua clarified that this marks the fourth disbursement of its kind, following small grants to all 578 junior and senior secondary schools last year, large grant phase I to 188 schools, mega grants to 15 schools, and now the second phase of a large grant to 100 schools.
She emphasized that the funds will be utilized to upgrade and enhance school infrastructure, covering the renovation of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and administrative blocks.
Dr. Mustapha Shehu, the state coordinator of AGILE, highlighted the significance of the collaboration between the Katsina government and AGILE in achieving sustainable educational development. He stressed that the AGILE project is dedicated to improving education for all, with a specific focus on the needs of adolescent girls. The project has already facilitated the construction of approximately 150 new secondary schools and the recruitment and training of over 2,000 teachers within two years.
The tweet further noted that the event witnessed the presence of the Chairman of Bindawa LGA, the District Head of Bindawa, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other dignitaries.
