Kano Leads NECO Performance, Strengthens Education Reforms
By Maikudi Muhammad Marafa
The Kano State Government has announced that the state recorded the highest number of students nationwide who obtained five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, in the 2025 examination conducted by the National Examinations Council. The development was disclosed during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting aimed at strengthening coordination and improving learning outcomes in the state’s education sector.
In a statement signed by Musbahu Aminu Yakasai Director Public Enlightenment of the Ministry disclosed that, The Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda, made the disclosure while delivering a keynote address at the February 2026 meeting of the Kano State Education Sector Joint Steering Committee held in Kaduna. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Bashir Baffa Muhammad, the Commissioner described the committee as the highest policy coordination platform in the state’s education sector, responsible for reviewing performance, harmonizing policies, strengthening inter-agency collaboration, and promoting transparency and accountability.
He stated that the state government has made significant progress in repositioning the education sector through improved planning and budgeting processes. According to him, linking sector plans with clear financial allocations has transformed implementation from an ad-hoc approach to a structured and sustainable governance system, urging stakeholders to intensify efforts to ensure reforms translate into improved classroom learning outcomes.
In his welcome remarks, the Technical Assistant to the Governor on Education Reforms, Mallam Haladu Muhammad, emphasized the importance of collective responsibility and evidence-based planning in driving reforms. Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Kano Emirate Council, the District Head of Garko, Dokajin Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Aliyu, reaffirmed the commitment of traditional institutions to promoting school enrollment, retention of learners, and community participation in education development.
Meanwhile, the Project Coordinator of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment disclosed that approval has been secured for the construction of 49 new secondary schools across Kano State, including 30 junior and 19 senior secondary schools, to expand access to quality education for girls. The meeting also featured technical presentations by officials of the Kano State Ministry of Education and development partners, focusing on sector performance, policy implementation, funding frameworks, and strategies to enhance accountability and improve learning achievements across schools in the state.
