Sokoto State records school enrollment of 800,000 pupils

Over 800,000 children in Sokoto State, North-West Nigeria have been enrolled into basic education schools, marking a drastic increase in the number of enrolment into public primary schools in the state.

This was made known by the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Sambo Bello Danchadi, who attributed the increased enrolment to the efforts of the Governor Ahmed Aliyu, at improving education infrastructure across the state.

The Commissioner said this at a post-budget media briefing where he gave breakdown of the 2025 budget of the state presented by Governor Aliyu to the State House of Assembly recently. Governor Aliyu had presented a budget estimate of N526 billion for the 2025 fiscal year.

Danchadi said the State Government has, since coming into office in 2023, improved education infrastructure across the state through massive construction of classrooms, perimetre fences across several public schools, improved teachers welfare and the provision of instructional aides to public schools.

He said the state will focus more on driving up school enrollment data as work continues on the improvement of school infrastructure and provision of teaching aides.

“These efforts bring about an increase in enrollment, particularly for Girls in our primary schools as over 800,000 children have been enrolled in school since 2023. Between 2023 and May 2024, there has been a 7.4% increase in girls’ enrollment in primary schools.

“The increase in enrollment, especially among girls, is a positive development in promoting gender equality in education. By addressing barriers to girls’ education, such as cultural norms or economic constraints. The administration is empowering women and contributing to the broader goal of gender equity. It is a well-known fact that educating girls has long-term socio-economic benefits, including improved health, reduced poverty, and enhanced community development”, he said.

According to the Commissioner, the State Government has executed the construction of over 170 blocks of classrooms and toilets in basic schools across various local governments and internally displaced persons, IDPs camps.

Similarly, it has also carried out the renovation and fencing of 79 dilapidated structures in schools as well as the provision of instructional materials and furniture across the state.

Danchadi said the Governor’s vision on education is to improve on the availability of quality education infrastructure and provide students with a conducive learning environment. He said the Governor believes that the construction and renovation of schools will significantly improve the availability of quality educational infrastructure, particularly at the junior secondary school level. “He is convinced that the expansion of secondary education infrastructure will help accommodate the growing population of school-age children and increase access to education in rural and underserved areas.”

He noted that the State Government is no longer indebted to its students on scholarship within and outside Nigeria, adding that an outstanding N460 million has been paid to enable Sokoto students in Indian universities to graduate.

This is in addition to the regular payment of WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS fees as well as the purchase of JAMB forms for students.

(Editor: Terverr Tyav)