The Federal Government has commissioned a renovated digital e-library at the Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, as part of efforts to modernise public schools and expand access to technology-driven learning across the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) land-swap initiative at the college, describing it as a sustainable strategy for improving educational infrastructure.
In a statement on Monday by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Communication, Mr Ikharo Attah, Alausa said this during a strategic inspection of key Federal Government education projects and institutions in Kano State.
The minister, accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, heads of education agencies and the Kano State Commissioner for Education, inspected the Bilingual School in Ungogo, the JICA-supported Junior Secondary School in Lenge, Tofa Local Government Area, Federal Government College, Kano, the National Commission for Mass Education (NMEC) office and Tarda Smart School.
At FGC Kano, Alausa commissioned the upgraded digital e-library, describing it as a major milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to prepare Nigerian students for a technology-driven future.
The facility, powered by solar energy and equipped with air conditioning, modern lighting and nearly 80 digital computer workstations, is expected to enhance students’ digital literacy and access to quality learning resources.
The minister disclosed that the Tinubu administration inherited 36 abandoned and poorly executed e-library projects in Unity Colleges across the country, adding that 16 of the facilities had now been rehabilitated through the intervention of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
He said the development reflected the administration’s commitment to providing Nigerian students with world-class learning facilities.
Alausa also interacted with students of the college, commending their confidence, communication skills and academic outlook, which he said reflected the Federal Government’s human capital development agenda.
Speaking on the proposed land-swap initiative, the minister said the policy was aimed at responsibly leveraging underutilised government land to generate resources for the construction of classrooms, hostels and other critical infrastructure.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that every policy translates into better opportunities for our students. We have no interest other than providing quality education and improved infrastructure for Nigerian children,” he said.
He added that the Federal Government remained open to collaborating with the college’s old students’ association and other stakeholders willing to support the institution’s development through similar partnerships.
Earlier, at the Bilingual School in Ungogo, Alausa expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, noting that the project was about 90 per cent completed and on course for delivery on or before 31 August 2026.
He directed that teacher recruitment and other operational preparations begin immediately to ensure the school admits its first set of learners in September.
The minister also disclosed that a third bilingual school would commence academic activities at the start of the 2026 academic session, while a fourth would become operational by June 2027.
According to him, the bilingual school initiative remains one of the Federal Government’s key interventions to address the challenge of out-of-school children by integrating Almajiri and other vulnerable children into formal education.
He said the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative had already returned more than one million out-of-school children to classrooms within the last 24 months.
At the JICA-supported Junior Secondary School in Lenge, Tofa Local Government Area, Alausa inspected the ongoing construction of classrooms, perimeter fencing and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities.
He announced that the junior secondary school would relocate to the new structures upon completion, while the existing buildings would be converted into a primary school, with the Federal Government providing furniture and carrying out additional renovations.
During the visit, the minister also met a student innovator who had developed an Artificial Intelligence-powered school application designed to improve teaching and learning, strengthen communication between schools and parents, monitor attendance and assignments, and provide remote access to learning materials.
Impressed by the innovation, Alausa directed the UBEC Director of Digital Platforms and Analytics to engage with the student and explore ways of supporting the project’s development.
Also speaking, the Kano State Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna, commended the Federal Government for its sustained interventions in the state’s education sector.
He said the partnership between the Federal and Kano State governments had contributed significantly to improvements in access to education, infrastructure and learning outcomes.
Haruna added that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s declaration of a state of emergency in education and increased budgetary allocations aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and would continue to strengthen education delivery across the state.