Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has revealed that his administration has invested over N120 billion in the education sector and constructed 170 junior secondary schools across Katsina State within the last three years, underscoring a commitment to expanding educational access and strengthening human capital development.
The governor made the disclosure as part of activities marking the third anniversary of his administration, highlighting key achievements recorded under the government’s “Building Your Future” development agenda.
According to a report released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, education has remained one of the most prioritized sectors under the Radda administration, attracting significant funding and policy attention aimed at improving learning outcomes across the state.
The report stated that the newly constructed junior secondary schools were strategically located in communities that previously lacked such facilities, thereby bringing educational opportunities closer to thousands of children who had limited access to post-primary education.
Beyond the construction of new schools, the administration also embarked on extensive rehabilitation projects, upgrading learning environments in 300 schools while renovating an additional 150 primary schools across various parts of Katsina State.
Governor Radda said the interventions were designed not only to improve infrastructure but also to address longstanding disparities in educational access between urban and rural communities.
“We constructed 170 junior secondary schools in communities that previously had none. We rehabilitated 300 schools and renovated 150 primary schools. We established ICT and Computer-Based Test centres in both rural and urban communities because a child in the village deserves the same digital access as a child in the city,” the governor stated.
In a move aimed at positioning Katsina students for global competitiveness, the administration also established model and smart secondary schools in Radda, Jikamshi, and Dumurkul, representing the three senatorial districts of the state.
The schools are equipped with modern educational facilities, including robotics laboratories, artificial intelligence centres, internet-enabled learning systems, and uninterrupted electricity supply to support technology-driven education.
According to the governor, the smart schools are intended to expose students to emerging technologies and prepare them for opportunities in an increasingly digital and innovation-driven world.
Education stakeholders have described the initiative as a major step toward modernising the state’s education system and equipping learners with skills relevant to the demands of the twenty-first-century economy.
The report further disclosed that the government has continued to invest in human capital development through foreign scholarship programmes, increased student allowances, and the prompt payment of bursaries to eligible beneficiaries.
The administration has also prioritized teachers’ welfare, implementing regular salary payments and supporting professional development programmes aimed at improving classroom instruction and educational quality.
Governor Radda maintained that education remains one of the most valuable investments any government can make, noting that the impact of current interventions would extend beyond the present generation.
“Education is one of the cardinal areas where we have invested the most and where we believe our impact will last the longest,” he said.
With billions of naira committed to school infrastructure, digital learning facilities, student support programmes, and teacher development, the Katsina State Government believes its education reforms are laying a strong foundation for sustainable development and a more prosperous future for the state’s young population.
