The Kano State Government has approved ₦1.1 billion for the procurement of free school uniforms for all primary one pupils.
According to a statement by Gov. Abba Yusuf’s spokesman, Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa, on Friday, the initiative aims to ease the burden on parents while encouraging enrolment across the state.
Kano, one of Nigeria’s most populous states, has long been identified as a major contributor to the country’s out-of-school children crisis.
UNICEF and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) estimate that Northern Nigeria accounts for the majority of Nigeria’s 10.5 million out-of-school children, with Kano consistently ranking among the top.
Providing free uniforms, Dawakin-Tofa stressed, will not only attract children into classrooms but also improve retention and equity in education. “Education is a right, not a privilege,” he said, emphasizing that the move aligns with the government’s comprehensive education reform agenda.
Despite federal policies promoting free and compulsory basic education, millions of Nigerian children, particularly in rural and underserved areas, remain excluded.
Kano’s ₦1.1bn investment signals a practical step toward bridging this gap, strengthening access, and ensuring that more children benefit from quality basic education.