In a compelling bid to reshape education in northern Nigeria, Kaduna State has revealed a transformative ₦440 billion roadmap designed to elevate Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and welcome Almajiri children into the formal education fold. Announced at the EduPACT 2025 Summit, this strategic investment underscores a commitment to inclusive learning, economic empowerment, and sustainable development.
Table of Contents
Summit Overview
The three-day EduPACT International Summit—held under the banner “Strategic Visioning for Educational Transformation: Developing the Kaduna State Education Model”—drew together government officials, development partners, academics, religious and traditional leaders, civil society representatives, and student advocates. The summit’s culmination in a forward-thinking communique spoke directly to the region’s most urgent education and employment challenges.
What’s in the ₦440 Billion TVET Roadmap?
- Public-Private Partnerships: Establishment of industry-linked Centres of Excellence in high-demand trades, offering structured apprenticeships for Kaduna’s youth.
- Budgetary Commitment: A groundbreaking resolution for allocating at least 15% of Kaduna’s annual education budget to TVET—vital for mitigating youth unemployment, nurturing entrepreneurial skills, and enhancing regional competitiveness.
- Industry-Aligned Curriculum: Introducing vocational hubs, modern facilities, and experiential training grounded in the evolving requirements of industry partners.
According to Kaduna’s Education Commissioner, Prof. Abubakar Sambo, “TVET is not merely skills training; it is about economic mobility, social transformation, and reducing crime.” This vision champions a deliberate, strategic education model reflecting the realities of the 21st century.
Integrating Almajiri Into Formal Education
A notable highlight from EduPACT was the unanimous endorsement of a full-scale revision of the Almajiri system—a centuries-old method of Quranic learning that has marginalised millions in secular education and opportunities.
Key objectives include:
- Educational Fusion: Bridging traditional Quranic instruction with literacy, numeracy, digital fluency, and vocational training—ensuring Almajiri children are woven into Kaduna’s human capital development narrative.
- Barrier Removal: Eliminating compulsory uniforms, PTA levies, and stigmatising practices that alienate families, making education accessible to all communities.
- Championing Religious Leaders: Empowering imams and Quranic scholars to advocate for the integrated model, building trust and encouraging parental support.
- Statewide Registration: Plans are underway to formally register Almajiri schools, bringing them under official oversight and regulation.
Commissioner Sambo aptly noted, “Almajiri children must no longer be left behind,” symbolising a shift from marginalisation to empowerment.
Structural Reforms & Institutional Anchoring
EduPACT advocates for the formation of a Kaduna State Education Reform Council, which would integrate entities such as SUBEB, the Teachers’ Service Board, and the Ministry of Education. The council aims to streamline roles, eliminate outdated policies, and establish a cohesive education framework.
Other essential recommendations include:
- Teacher Expansion & Quality Checks: Recruit more qualified staff and conduct regular competency evaluations to modernise teaching approaches, especially in rural schools.
- Smart Classroom Rollout: Integrate AI, digital platforms, and renewable energy (solar, wind, biofuel) into learning environments, particularly in underserved areas. A Kaduna Research Cloud is proposed to boost higher education research and global competitiveness.
- Inclusive Community Governance: Strengthening School-Based Management Committees, PTAs, Mothers’ Associations, and ensuring student representation in policy bodies.
- Equity and Disability Rights: Enforcing equitable tuition structures, promoting disability-inclusive campuses, and expanding early childhood programs to reach vulnerable demographics, including out-of-school children.
Partner Endorsements & Forward Momentum
Deputy Team Leader of the UK’s FCDO PLANE programme, Sam Achimugu, described EduPACT as “very successful,” expressing unwavering support for Kaduna’s initiative and intentions to institutionalise the summit annually.
Save the Children Nigeria’s Deputy Director, Victor Lubeck, reaffirmed the summit’s commitment: “No child should be left behind in the quest for quality education.”
UNICEF’s Blessing Nwafor emphasised the need to bridge the prevailing gap “between policy and practice” to meet Kaduna’s educational goals.
Why This Matters: Long-Term Implications
- Reducing Out‑of‑School Rates: By integrating millions of Almajiri children, Kaduna tackles a systemic issue contributing to Nigeria’s staggering 13.4 million out‑of‑school youth.
- Economic Growth Engine: TVET expansion unlocks employment, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance among young people.
- Social Cohesion: Harmonising secular and religious education fosters societal inclusion and combats marginalisation.
- National Blueprint: Kaduna’s model could inform similar education reforms across northern states and beyond.
Conclusion
The ₦440 billion TVET roadmap with Almajiri integration marks a bold pivot in Kaduna’s education policy: from fragmented programs to a unified, technology-empowered, and community-driven model. With key stakeholders—including government, development agencies, religious bodies, and educators—aligned around implementation, Kaduna is poised to craft a lasting legacy in human capital development and social progress.
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