ABBA KABIR YUSUF DESERVES APPLAUSE AS KANO TOPS ECOWAS EDUCATION SPENDING RANKING

By Tijjani Sarki

The reported emergence of Kano State as the highest-ranked sub-national government in ECOWAS on the Sub-National Weighted Aggregate Education Spending Index (S-WAESI) is a significant achievement worthy of recognition. If sustained, it reflects the state’s growing commitment to prioritising education through strategic public investment.

I congratulate the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf , for this commendable milestone. The recognition is an indication that deliberate investment in education can attract regional acknowledgment and strengthen confidence in public policy.

Nevertheless, the true value of increased education spending lies not in rankings alone but in measurable improvements in learning outcomes, teacher quality, school infrastructure, access to education, and the reduction of out-of-school children. These are the benchmarks by which history will judge today’s investments.

Sustaining this progress requires collective responsibility. Parents, traditional and religious institutions, community leaders, civil society organisations, the private sector, and development partners must complement government efforts by promoting school enrolment, safeguarding educational facilities, and demanding accountability in the management of public resources.

Kano’s achievement should inspire other states to place education at the centre of development planning. More importantly, it should encourage the state government to consolidate these gains through transparency, consistency, and policies that deliver lasting educational transformation.

If government and society continue to work together, this recognition will become more than a regional ranking, it will become a foundation for producing educated, skilled, and productive citizens capable of driving Kano’s future prosperity.

Tijjani Sarki

Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst

3rd July 2026.