A major boost to basic education unfolded in Kano State as the Nuhu Abdullahi Development Foundation, founded by renowned Kannywood actor and filmmaker Nuhu Abdullahi, officially launched its community development initiative with the renovation and handover of key educational facilities at Kawo Maigari Primary School.
The foundation’s launch event, held alongside project commissioning activities, drew stakeholders from government, traditional institutions, and the education sector, marking a significant intersection between celebrity-led philanthropy and public education reform efforts in the state.
Nuhu Abdullahi, while unveiling the foundation, said the initiative was driven by a conviction that education remains the foundation of societal progress. He emphasized that every child deserves dignity in learning environments and access to basic infrastructure that supports effective education.
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“Every child in Northern Nigeria deserves the dignity of a proper desk, the safety of a secure roof, and the guidance of an empowered educator,” he said.
He also commended education reforms in Kano State under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, particularly the declaration of a state of emergency in education and ongoing school rehabilitation programmes.
He further praised federal intervention through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), noting that such initiatives are expanding access to higher education for young Nigerians.
At the core of the foundation’s intervention was the execution of multiple infrastructure projects at Kawo Maigari Primary School, established in 1977. These include the full renovation of three classrooms, equipped with 108 single-seater desks, ensuring each pupil has individual learning space; the establishment of an Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCG) ward fitted with child-friendly learning furniture; the construction of two modern toilet blocks for staff and pupils with a sustainable water system; and the provision of two fully furnished staff rooms to improve teacher welfare.
Meanwhile, community stakeholders commended the intervention as timely and impactful.
Nura Kabir, Wakilin Dagacin Kawo, praised the foundation for improving learning conditions but also called on the government to address staffing gaps in schools.
“I urge the Kano State Government to enroll temporary teachers working here into its payroll as permanent and pensionable staff,” he said.
Sa’ed Umar Danbare, Director of Schools at the Kano State Ministry of Education and representative of the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, noted that despite ongoing reforms under the state government, schools still face significant infrastructural and manpower challenges.
He called for stronger collaboration between government, philanthropists, and civil society organizations to meet education targets.
“I hope philanthropists, well-to-do individuals, and non-governmental organizations will complement the present administration in achieving its set targets,” he said.
The intervention at Kawo Maigari Primary School has been widely described as a model of public-private synergy in education development, blending government reforms with philanthropic support.
The project not only improves learning conditions but also highlights the growing role of private foundations and public figures in addressing gaps in Nigeria’s basic education system.
As stakeholders continue to push for sustained reforms, the Nuhu Abdullahi Foundation’s entry into the education space is expected to deepen conversations around infrastructure, teacher welfare, and community participation in school development across Kano State and beyond.