Kano State has presented a historic N1.36 trillion budget for 2026, with education receiving 30% (N405.35 billion) the largest allocation across all sectors and one of the boldest education investments in northern Nigeria. This development signals a renewed commitment by the Kano State Government to strengthening the education sector and improving outcomes for children across the state. (Read News).
Over the past year, we have been actively advocating and providing technical expertise to high-level stakeholders across Kano State for the development, adoption, and implementation of the Gender-Responsive Education Budgeting (GREB) Framework. This work contributed to the state’s official adoption of the framework during the Kano Girls’ Education Summit in October 2025 under the Bridging Access to Girls’ Education (BAGE) Project supported by Malala Fund. Our goal has remained clear and consistent: to ensure that government commitments translate into real budget priorities that directly improve girls’ access to quality education.
In the months following the summit, we engaged with the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ali Haruna Makoda; the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Hon. Musa Suleiman Shanono, the Chairman of SUBEB, Alhaji Yusuf Kabir; the Deputy Governor’s Office; and His Highness, Dr. Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano. Across all these engagements, one message was consistent, the State Government remains committed to prioritising education and ensuring that girls are not left behind.
That commitment has now translated into a landmark outcome. With the recent presentation of the 2026 budget proposal by His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, to the Kano State House of Assembly, education has been allocated 30% (N405.35 billion) of the proposed total, one of the largest education investments in the history of northern Nigeria. This decisive prioritisation deserves strong commendation. It reflects the Government’s willingness to invest in the future of education for children in Kano state and to take bold steps toward addressing gender gaps in the education system.
While BCAI has invested deeply in sustained engagement, evidence generation, and policy advocacy, we recognise that this progress is part of a broader collective effort. Development partners, civil society organisations, and the wider education advocacy ecosystem, including the Malala Fund supported Education Champions Network have contributed significantly to ongoing demands for increased, equitable, and gender-responsive financing in the state. This shared commitment has helped create the enabling environment for government action.
As the 2026 budget moves toward final approval, we remain focused on supporting its full implementation. We commend the Kano State Government for this milestone and reaffirm our commitment to working collaboratively to ensure that this investment truly delivers for school girls across the state. Through the GREB Framework and continued partnerships with ministries, schools, and communities, we will continue to advocate for increased access, improved retention, and stronger learning outcomes for adolescent girls.
We are encouraged by the strong commitments expressed by state leadership and stand ready, alongside our partners, to ensure that this historic budget becomes a turning point for girls’ education in Kano.