The Kaduna State Government has entered into a partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to support the “Reaching Out-of-School Children” project, which aims to provide quality education to over 200,000 out-of-school children in the state. The agreement was formalized during a signing ceremony at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, on Friday.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, emphasized the importance of the initiative in ensuring that all children, regardless of their circumstances, have access to quality education. She highlighted that the project is particularly focused on reintegrating girls, children with disabilities, and adolescents into the education system, offering them opportunities for a brighter future.
“This project marks a crucial step in our shared commitment to ensuring that children in Kaduna State have access to quality education, irrespective of their circumstances,” Balarabe stated.
The initiative, supported by several international partners including the Islamic Development Bank, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Global Partnership for Education, Education Above All, and Save the Children International, is expected to have far-reaching effects. In addition to reintegrating out-of-school children, the project will benefit more than 1.2 million primary school pupils through improved facilities and learning materials.
Furthermore, over 36,000 education stakeholders, including teachers and headteachers, will undergo training and capacity development as part of the initiative, aimed at strengthening the state’s educational system.
Dr. Balarabe praised UNICEF and other partners for their commitment to improving education in Kaduna, noting that this collaboration will transform the educational landscape for disadvantaged children across the state.
