The Federal Government through ministry of education has reaffirmed its commitment to building a future-ready, globally competitive education system with the commissioning of the Katsina State Smart Secondary School, Radda.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser (Media and Communications) to the Minister Of Education, Ikharo Attah , the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda, commissioned the project in Katsina.
Dr Alausa, who described the project as a bold milestone, said the Smart School represents more than infrastructure; it is a symbol of innovation, opportunity, and a strategic investment in human capital designed to prepare Nigerian students for a technology-driven global economy.
The Minister commended Governor Radda’s leadership under the Build-Your-Future Blueprint, noting that Katsina’s progress in expanding access, improving infrastructure, and strengthening teacher development reflects a clear commitment to sustainable development through education.
He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and forms part of broader reforms under the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which focuses on expanding access, strengthening STEMM and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), improving infrastructure, promoting inclusive education, and advancing digital governance.
Highlighting progress, Dr. Alausa disclosed that over ₦106 billion in UBEC matching grants has been accessed by states in the last 18 months, alongside investments exceeding ₦22 billion in teacher development, ₦2.035 billion to School-Based Management Committees, the renovation of over 10,000 classrooms, the training of 978,000 teachers, and the distribution of more than 7.8 million textbooks nationwide.
He further announced that the revised Primary Education Curriculum is already being implemented nationwide, while the new Secondary Education Curriculum will commence in the next academic session.
Funding has also been secured for the HOPE Education Programme to deepen access, quality, and institutional capacity.
On skills development, the Minister revealed that over 160,000 youths are currently undergoing training across more than 1,200 TVET centres nationwide, with over 1 million applications recorded in the latest phase, underscoring strong national demand for skills-based education.
Dr. Alausa also highlighted key digital reforms, including the rollout of a cloud-based Annual School Census and the introduction of the Learner Identification Number (LIN), which will enhance data-driven planning, transparency, and accountability.
While reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive education, he noted that intensified efforts are underway to tackle the challenge of out-of-school children through sustained collaboration with states.
He noted that the Katsina Smart Secondary School stands as a national model for smart education and a catalyst for transformative change, assuring continued Federal Government support to states in delivering modern, high-quality education for all Nigerians.
In his speech, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, said his administration decided to embark on the smart model secondary school construction because “ we believe that the government that neglect the schooling of its children has failed at the most fundamental duty, regardless of whatever else it builds.”
He added that his administration Will not rest until every zone in the state has access to the same high standard of education.
The governor pointed out that Since his administration assumed office in 2020, it has prosecuted revolutionary programmes in the education sector of the state.
