Kano State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Ali Haruna Makoda, has revealed that twenty-nine schools selected from seven local government areas are currently benefiting from the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS) Project in Kano.
The project is being implemented with the support of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Kano State with the aim of ensuring proper management of infrastructure that provides essential services while withstanding the impact of climate change.
Speaking at the stakeholders engagement meeting in Abuja, Dr. Makoda disclosed that the CRIBS intervention in Kano remains a practical approach to making schools safer, more inclusive, and better equipped to withstand the realities of harsh climatic change.
” As I speak today, 29 schools in 7 local government areas of Tudun Wada, Kiru, Gezawa, Dawakin Tofa, Ungogo, Nassarawa and Sumaila in Kano state are currently benefitting from this intervention ” he pointed out.
Dr. Makoda explained that the process began with Climate Resilient Assessment Tool which was used by UNICEF to identify climatic issue as the best approach to select the 29 schools among many schools shortlisted to benefit from the intervention.
The Commissioner said the upgrades being delivered under CRIBS initiative in kano is beyond infrastructure but include construction and rehabilitation of classrooms using climate-resilient materials, with Integration of inclusive features to support learners with disabilities.
According to Makoda, the initiative had improved access to safe water and gender-sensitive sanitation facilities, which are all important for learners’ health, dignity and school attendance especially for girls.
” This intervention also ensures provision of solar-powered borehole system to promote sustainable learning environments as well as tree planting by pupils and communities to beautify the schools and make them environmental and climate friendly” the Commissioner added.
He noted that the initiative not only enhance the physical learning environment of the schools, but also contribute to pupil’s retention, safety and climate resilience in the affected schools’ infrastructure.
” CRIBS by the FCDO and UNICEF is seen as a support that aligns with the vision of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, in repositioning the education sector to a more inclusive, equitable, and forward-looking ” Ali stated.
Haruna Makoda therefore thanked UNICEF and FCDO for the intervention, promising sustainability, full ownership and expansion by ensuring that school building and infrastructure henceforth in kano is not only climate resilient but inclusive.
It could be recalled that the Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf had declared state of emergency on education, transparently opening doors for support and intervention of all kinds to better the sector.
Credit: Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru
