Kano expends N1.2bn for schools renovation

Kano state Education Promotion Committee, EPC, has executed projects worth N1, 266, 245, 891 in public primary schools across the 44 local government areas of the state, in the past one year.
Out of the amount, N440 million was donated by the state government while communal and corporate sources donated N826, 245, 191, quoting the chairman of the committee, Alh. Tajuddeen Dantata has announced.
Presenting the report of the committee to the state governor, as part of activities of the first Kano Basic Education Week, Alhaji Dantata, according to a statement by Salihu Tanko Yakasai, Director General, Media & Communications, Government House Kano, stated that the combined intervention projects of 21 individual and corporate donors amounted to N534, 600, 670 making up 42 percent the total community based support.
He added that 31 plots were donated for school expansion or construction recommending that the state Ministry of Lands should liaise with the donors for proper processing of the title documents in favour of the respective schools.
In his speech, the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje acknowledged that from the amount collected by the EPC, “653 blocks of 1,288 classrooms were renovated at the cost of N445,090,838.00; New 150 blocks of 301 classrooms constructed at the cost of N511,965,396.00, 15,250 3-Seater desks and Teachers furniture provided at the sum of N108,327,000.25 while Various other projects to the tune of N200,858,956.28 were executed”.

“The various reports presented by the Chairman of the Main Committee as well as those presented by the 44 Local Government Committees have given us assurances of the commitment of the good people of Kano State, NGOs CSOs, Corporate Organizations and public-spirited individuals to the development of education in the State”, the governor asserted.

Governor Ganduje explained that his visit to different parts of the state to inspect the performance of the committees as well as gauge public acceptance of and participation in the programme renewed his confidence and trust in the honesty and integrity of members of the Education Promotion Committees.

He, therefore, announced a donation of N10 million to each of the local government EPCs, totaling N440 million, to enable them continue with the mandate of renovating public schools in their domains.

The governor charged elites to come back to their communities and contribute meaningfully to education and other sectors, so as to have sense of belonging and make their environments better.

Earlier on, the state Deputy Governor, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, who is also the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, explained that there was for transparency in the management of funds allocated to the EPCs, stressing that although daunting challenges remain in the education sector of the state, sustained community participation would alleviate the problems.