August 22, 2025 – Sokoto State has announced that it will spend N8.3 billion on the renovation of selected basic and secondary schools, according to the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Ahmed Ala. He made this statement in Abuja on Friday while highlighting the government’s ongoing education projects.
Ala explained that the renovation works are already at 90 per cent completion in many famous secondary schools across the state. He noted that Governor Aliyu Sokoto’s administration is committed to improving the teaching and learning environment for both students and teachers.
“I am confident that things are moving in the right direction because I have the zeal and determination to change the course of history, but the most important thing is the assurance of the governor,’’ Ala said.
The commissioner revealed that 240 secondary schools are undergoing improvements under the Adolescent Girls Initiative Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme. He said the state government has taken steps to provide toilets, washing facilities, and water systems in these schools.
“In each of these secondary schools, there is provision for washing facilities, toilets, and other facilities. This is because we have come to realise that one of the things girls find difficult when they come to school is how to go and ease themselves. Even their parents detest the idea of allowing boys and girls to share the same toilet. So, under the AGILE programme, toilets are being constructed separately, and water provided to each of these 240 secondary schools is under construction,” he explained.
Ala also stressed that the government recognises the importance of skills development in education delivery. To improve the system, the state has embarked on retraining teachers across basic and secondary schools.
“We are also radically undertaking teacher training because we found out that so many teachers do not have the necessary knowledge, skills, and competence to teach in the secondary schools. So far, we have done two sets of training and have been able to train 2,500 teachers,” he said.
The commissioner added that Sokoto State is working with partners, including UNICEF, to provide learning resources for students.
“We are working with partners such as UNICEF and some other foundations. One of the foundations wants to establish 10 libraries in 10 schools as part of efforts to revive reading culture among students,” Ala said.