Kaduna State Government has announced a ₦440 billion investment to transform technical and vocational education and training statewide (TVET). The state government and education stakeholders are pushing key reforms to integrate the Almajiri system into formal education statewide.
The decision was among the resolutions reached at the state summit tagged Edupact 2025, which ended on Friday in Kaduna. Government agencies, international development organizations, civil society and academia were among the participants in the three-day summit.
At the summit’s end, Education Commissioner Abubakar Sambo advocated decisive steps to address rising youth unemployment across the state. According to him, practical and inclusive reforms will enhance skill development and mainstream the Almajiri education system.
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Sambo noted that stakeholders concurred that 15% of the state’s annual education budget should be dedicated to TVET. This will allow for entrepreneurship promotion, employment across the state and widespread economic growth in Kaduna.
He emphasised that the state’s approach must be intentional, strategic, and fully aligned with the modern, contemporary world. Moreover, vocational education is not just about acquiring skills; rather, it plays a critical role in reducing crime, mobilising society, and promoting economic empowerment.
Stakeholders Advocate Literacy, Vocational Training for Almajiri Children
In line with this, a key summit decision was to reform Almajiri education, excluding millions from formal education and jobs.To support the reform, participants advocated literacy programmes for Almajiri children and removal of barriers like compulsory uniforms among others.
Sambo declared that the system will be modernized by bridging Quranic education with literacy, digital skills and vocational training. According to him, the youth, including the almajiri children, must be part of Kaduna’s human capital development story.
In addition, education stakeholders at the summit urged state religious leaders to collaborate with the government for successful reform. Furthermore, they called for the creation of a Kaduna State Education Council to unify the roles of all educational bodies.
Building on these recommendations, summit participants also argued that outdated policies must be updated to reflect modern realities.
