“Multilingual Education Reduces Out-of-School Children,” Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad

Summary: The Federal Government has launched the IsDB–UBEC Bilingual Education Boarding School in Kano to advance human capital development and equip students with practical skills. Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad said the multilingual education programme also aims to improve learning outcomes and reduce the number of out-of-school children.

The Federal Government has taken another step in its drive to strengthen human capital development by launching a bilingual education boarding school in Kano State. The initiative reflects the government’s focus on equipping children with practical skills and competencies to thrive in a globalised world.

The launch of the IsDB–UBEC Bilingual Education Boarding School in Kiru Local Government Area was marked on January 20, 2026, by Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, Minister of State for Education, who described it as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education transformation agenda. The minister emphasised that such investments are crucial for preparing Nigerian children with linguistic, vocational and digital skills necessary for future success.

“Multilingual education prepares students to participate effectively in diverse social and economic systems, while also helping to reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve learning outcomes through modern teaching methods,” she said.

Representing Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ibrahim, pledged continued collaboration to ensure the effective utilisation of the school. He expressed confidence that the facility would expand access to quality education and significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children in Kano and beyond.

Umar Ibrahim also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to education reform, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in opportunity, knowledge and national development. He highlighted recent policy changes, including the declaration of a state of emergency in education, aimed at addressing longstanding challenges such as poor standards and limited access.

In her remarks, Aisha Garba, Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), said the Kiru facility is one of 30 Bilingual Education Model Schools being constructed across nine states nationwide. She added that Kano State is hosting four of these schools, located in Doguwa, Ganduje, Ungoggo, and Kiru.

Aisha Garba explained that the schools integrate English and Arabic literacy with technical and vocational education, ICT-driven learning, and secure boarding facilities. 

She described the inauguration as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to providing safe, inclusive, and quality education for every Nigerian child, assuring that UBEC will continue to support the school through teacher engagement, effective management and regular monitoring.