Foundation convenes stakeholders to address girl child education funding in Kano
BudgIT Foundation, through the Education Champion Network (ECN) supported by the Malala Fund, has convened a high-level stakeholders’ engagement on Girl Child Education Financing in Kano State. Held on April
BudgIT Foundation, through the Education Champion Network (ECN) supported by the Malala Fund, has convened a high-level stakeholders' engagement on Girl Child Education Financing in Kano State.
Held on April 14, 2026, the engagement brought together representatives from the Kano State Ministry of Education, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Kano Emirate, civil society organisations, and other key stakeholders.
The engagement was to examine the state of girls' education financing in Kano, identify critical gaps, and develop a shared path forward.
Head of Research and Policy Advisory at BudgIT Foundation, Adejoke Akinbode, opened the engagement with an overview of the project, situating it within BudgIT's broader mission of transparency and accountability in public finance.
She described the ECN project as a coalition-driven effort aimed at advancing girl child education through evidence-based advocacy.
"Scaling up targeted financing for girls' education is not merely a social imperative — it is a strategic investment with profound implications for economic development and the long-term sustainability of society," Akinbode said.
Giving an overview of Kano State’s girl child education financing, Research and Policy Analyst, at BudgIT Foundation, Ibukunolu James, while presenting findings from BudgIT Foundation's research, revealed that less than five per cent of capital expenditure has been directed toward girl child education in Kano State since 2021.
She further noted that the state's budget contains no gender-disaggregated data, making it impossible to determine whether any portion of education funds directly benefits girls.
"The persistent funding gap for girls' education in Kano State has produced a cascade of structural deficits," James said. "Schools lack the physical facilities necessary to support inclusive learning environments for girls, and limited resources have constrained entry opportunities, leaving many girls unable to enroll."
James also flagged systemic barriers embedded in the state's governance architecture.
"There is limited awareness among budget officers and Ministry of Education staff on gender issues, and this creates a gap between the existence of the National Gender Policy and its actual integration into education financing," she noted.
She added that minimal coordination between the Ministries of Education, Budget, and Women's Affairs further weakens resource mobilisation efforts.
Government representatives at the engagement acknowledged the gaps while highlighting ongoing interventions and projects.
Director of Special Duties at SUBEB Kano, Nura Ibrahim, noted that the state government has established learning centres for girls in rural areas as temporary facilities while permanent school buildings are constructed.
“These learning centers serve as placeholders pending the time that school buildings are constructed," Ibrahim said, adding that the state remains committed to expanding access for girls in underserved communities.
A representative from the Ministry of Education, Mr Sogir Umar, stated that girls' education in Kano State has the full backing of the government, pointing to the deployment of school buses as a concrete intervention.
"The government has made available school buses for girls in the state," Umar said. "The school buses are targeted at easing the movement of girls to and from school."
The representative of the Kano Emirate, Alhaji Dr. Mukhtar Ibrahim Bello, reaffirmed the traditional institution's unwavering commitment to the cause.
"Kano State is always in support of girls' education," he declared. "The Kano Emirate will always be available to give support to advocacies that involve girl child education financing."
The engagement produced a set of concrete recommendations for the Kano State Government.
The recommendations included establishing dedicated budget line items for girls' education capital expenditure and provide support materials such as books and learning aids, with a focus on expanding schools in rural communities with adequate sanitary facilities; increasing the recruitment of female teachers and invest in teacher capacity building.
Report capital receipts from donor funding for girls' education transparently within the state budget; and engaging School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) in the budgetary process and assign them oversight roles in the implementation of girl child education funding.
They also included maintaining transparent financial records for girls' education, ensuring funds reach rural and underserved communities; and deploying effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, with relevant agencies tracking enrollment and retention rates for girls.
BudgIT Foundation called on the Kano State Government to translate the commitments made at this engagement into measurable action with clear timelines, accountability mechanisms, and disaggregated budget tracking.
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