Only 9.6% of primary school pupils in Kano demonstrate reading proficiency, while 11.2% possess basic numeracy skills, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
UNICEF Chief of Kano Field Office, Rahama Mohammed, disclosed this during a press briefing marking the 2025 International Day for Education in Kano. He emphasized the urgent need for increased investment in education, noting that nearly one million children—about 32% of primary school-age children in the state—are not enrolled in formal education, as revealed by the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS).
To address this crisis, UNICEF has integrated Quranic schools into the formal education system, trained over 290 Mallams, and improved school infrastructure with climate-resilient Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, benefitting over 39,000 children.
Additionally, UNICEF has supported teacher training, supplied over 630,000 teaching materials, and partnered with organizations like the European Union and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office to advance education reforms in Kano and neighbouring states.
UNICEF reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with state governments to improve access to quality education and better learning outcomes in northern Nigeria.
