The Kano State Government has approved N3 billion for the payment of examination fees for 141,745 underprivileged students who recently sat for the 2024 Senior Secondary Qualifying Examination.
The move reaffirms the state’s commitment to improving access to quality education while alleviating financial pressures on families.
State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Ali Haruna Makoda, announced the initiative during a press briefing in Kano on Saturday, stating that the decision aligns with Governor Abba Yusuf’s Education Reform Agenda.
Makoda explained that the beneficiaries—students from public schools under the Kano Educational Resource Department, the Science and Technical Schools Board, and the Agency for Integrated Education Development—qualified for the sponsorship after achieving a minimum of five credits in the qualifying exam.
“In 2023, a total of 125,000 candidates were sponsored by the State Government. This year, Yusuf has graciously approved the sponsorship of all the indigent candidates who scored a minimum of five credits in the 2024 Senior Secondary Qualifying Examination,” he said.
The funds will fully cover registration fees for the 2025 National Examinations Council, National Business and Technical Examinations Board, National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies, and Senior School Certificate Examination.
The initiative is part of broader reforms under Governor Yusuf’s administration, which declared a state of emergency in the education sector and allocated 31.5% of the 2025 budget to education.
Makoda described the sponsorship as a “timely and bold initiative,” stating, “This is a timely and bold initiative by the Kano State Government to promote academic excellence, increase access to education, and ease the financial burden on vulnerable families.”
The commissioner directed school principals to ensure all eligible students benefit from the scheme without bias or obstruction.
“They must access their rights unconditionally and with full transparency,” Makoda emphasized.
Further details on the registration process will be communicated through relevant education agencies, including KERD, STSB, and AIED.
With this initiative, Kano joins a select group of Nigerian states demonstrating strong financial and policy commitments to youth education.
“This is not just about examinations; it is about shaping the future of Kano through an educated and empowered generation,” Makoda added.
