The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KAD-SUBEB), has successfully enrolled more than 1,000 out-of-school children from the remote Farar Kasa community in Soba Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State. This initiative aims to improve educational access and establish new learning opportunities in the area.
As part of this collaboration, a new primary school will be built, and an adult education program will be introduced for individuals beyond the typical school age. Dr. Gerida Birukila, UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Kaduna, emphasized that distance has been a significant barrier to education in this isolated community. She expressed satisfaction that this project will now enable local children to attend school, reducing the number of out-of-school children in Kaduna State.
Dr. Birukila also highlighted that Farar Kasa has been underserved in terms of health, education, and other essential services due to its remote location. To address these issues, UNICEF will provide a portable borehole and a medical facility for the community, alongside the new school and adult education programs.
Alhaji Tijjani Abdullahi, Chairman of SUBEB, praised UNICEF for its ongoing support to education and healthcare in Kaduna State. He announced that SUBEB is working on its 2023/2024 projects with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and plans to start constructing the school’s permanent building in January 2025.
Soba LGA Chairman Abdulmumini Bawa Gamagira acknowledged the importance of education for community development and stressed that tackling illiteracy could help resolve many of Nigeria’s challenges, including insecurity. The Village Head of Farar Kasa, Alhaji Habeeb Suleiman, welcomed the new school, noting that prior to this project, children had limited educational opportunities, particularly during the rainy season due to the long distance to the nearest school.
