Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, says his administration has recorded “remarkable progress” across education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, social welfare, and workers’ welfare in the last two and a half years, despite prevailing economic challenges.
Speaking at the 65th Independence Day celebration at Sani Abacha Stadium on Wednesday, Yusuf reaffirmed his government’s commitment to delivering people-oriented projects and consolidating on campaign promises.
The governor said Kano has exceeded the UNESCO benchmark by allocating nearly one-third of its 2024 and 2025 budgets to education. He disclosed that 6,000 new teachers have been recruited and 2,000 volunteer instructors absorbed into permanent service. Tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions were cut by 50 percent, while examination fees for thousands of students were covered by the government. The revived foreign postgraduate scholarship scheme has benefitted over 2,000 students so far.
He also noted that Kano has surpassed the Abuja Declaration benchmark on health funding. More than 500 health professionals have been recruited, while the state launched the Kano Centre for Disease Control and introduced free caesarean section services for expectant mothers.
To boost agriculture, fertilisers worth ₦1 billion were distributed to 52,800 smallholder farmers, while a ₦16 billion irrigation project was launched at Jakara Dam. Through the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), more than 477,000 farmers have been supported surpassing initial projections.
Moreover, the governor listed major infrastructure projects, including the rehabilitation of 17 roads across Kano metropolis and ₦27 billion committed to new interchange projects.
He also announced the restoration of operations at the Tamburawa Water Plant, alongside procurement of additional pumping machines to improve urban water supply.
He also added that, his administration has invested in empowerment programmes such as a ₦2.3 billion livestock entrepreneurship scheme, under which 7,158 goats were distributed to 2,386 women in all 44 LGAs. Another 1,130 graduates received start-up kits and resources, while thousands of small business owners were given ₦50,000 each as seed capital.
On workers’ welfare, the governor said his government has begun clearing a ₦48 billion backlog of unpaid pensions and gratuities, with ₦27 billion already disbursed.
He also pledged prompt and regular payment of salaries and pensions going forward.
Yusuf assured residents that his administration remains committed to good governance and sustainable development.
“We are determined to consolidate on the progress achieved and work towards a brighter future for the state,” he said.
