The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, has approved the merger of the Ministry of Higher Education with the Ministry of Education as part of efforts to strengthen coordination and accelerate reforms in the state’s education sector.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa.
According to the statement, the new structure will operate under the Ministry of Education, with the establishment of a specialised Directorate of Higher Education within the ministry to oversee tertiary education activities in the state.
The directorate will be headed by a Permanent Secretary and supported by relevant personnel to ensure effective management of higher education institutions.
The statement added that all agencies previously under the defunct Ministry of Higher Education would return to the Ministry of Education.
“Under this restructuring, all agencies under the defunct Higher Education Ministry, such as the Scholarship Board, will return to the Ministry of Education, while state-owned universities and other higher education institutions will be supervised by the new Directorate under the merged ministry,” the statement said.
The government explained that the restructuring forms part of ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning the education sector and improving policy coordination across all levels of education.
Yusuf said the move was also intended to eliminate duplication of responsibilities and reduce the cost of governance in the state.
“The reform is designed to reduce the cost of governance while enhancing efficiency, accountability and the overall quality of education administration in Kano State,” he said.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to implementing reforms that would revitalise the education sector and secure a better future for the younger generation.
He also directed the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Office of the Head of Service to ensure the immediate and seamless realignment of the affected ministries and their departments.