Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling the rising number of out-of-school children through fresh education and inclusion policies across the state.
Radda made this known in his message to commemorate the 2026 National Children’s Day celebration themed, “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child.”
The governor, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, said the government had intensified efforts to ensure that children from poor and vulnerable backgrounds gained access to quality education.
He said the administration had launched strategic interventions aimed at removing financial and social barriers preventing children from returning to school.
According to him, the government, in partnership with the Gwagware Foundation, introduced a Back to School Programme targeting out-of-school children across Katsina communities.
The programme provides school uniforms, writing materials as well as conditional cash and business grants to mothers to support children’s enrolment and retention in schools.
Radda said his administration also appointed two Special Advisers on Out-of-School Children as part of efforts to address the crisis through institutional reforms.
“No child in Katsina should be roaming the streets when there is a classroom waiting for them. We are not just talking about inclusion — we are funding it, staffing it, and tracking it,” the governor stated.
The governor further disclosed that three multi-million naira smart secondary schools had been established in Radda, Jikamshi and Dumurkul to cater for gifted children from disadvantaged rural communities.
He explained that the schools were equipped with modern learning facilities, including internet services, robotics and artificial intelligence laboratories to expose students to technology-driven education.
Radda added that 996 students would commence studies in the schools after undergoing what he described as a transparent admission process.
The governor also said the state government had continued to pay WAEC, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS examination fees for secondary school students to ease the burden on struggling families.
On safety, he said the administration recently launched the Katsina State Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools to address bullying, insecurity and gender-based violence in schools.
Radda urged parents, teachers and community leaders to support policies aimed at protecting children and expanding access to education across the state.
