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| Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa Minister of Education |
In his executive address on the first day of the conference, the Governor of Kaduna State and Chief Host, Senator Uba Sani, CON reiterated his administration’s commitment to building a resilient, inclusive and innovative education system that delivers results for all Kaduna State’s children. He said: “This summit marks a significant milestone in our ongoing quest to build a stronger, more inclusive, and future-ready education system in Kaduna State. Today, we shift from fragmented interventions to a unified, data-driven, and forward-looking educational strategy—one that places our children and youth at the centre of our development vision.
“When I assumed office as Governor in May 2023, we made it abundantly clear that education would be the cornerstone of our administration. We see it not merely as a sector to be managed, but as a powerful tool for individual empowerment and societal transformation. We believe a peaceful, prosperous, and secure society is built on the solid foundation of accessible, equitable, and high-quality education”
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, graced the occasion as a distinguished guest, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad.
He commended the bold and strategic efforts of the Kaduna State Government, describing the Governor as “a performing Governor” who has demonstrated what is possible when vision meets action.
Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa said that: “This KADA EDuPACT International Summit comes at a pivotal moment, one where our country and indeed the global community must decide how boldly we are willing to invest in the next generation, This Summit provides a platform for charting a clear, bold, and inclusive course for educational transformation, not just for Kaduna State, but as a model for other subnational entities across Nigeria.
“In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and our National Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), we are committed to reimagining and rebuilding our education system to meet the needs of the 21st century”.
Also speaking at the opening summit, the Chargé d’affaires and British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs. Gill Lever OBE reaffirmed the UK’s longstanding commitment to education reform in Nigeria, a demonstration of which is its role as the major co-sponsor of the EduPACT Summit. She said: “The UK and Kaduna State have built a strong partnership over the years, and the
Kaduna State Mutual Accountability Framework is a clear sign of the government’s commitment to inclusive, high-quality educ 53ation for all children.
Through our PLANE programme, we’ve worked closely with Kaduna State to improve foundational learning, teacher quality, and inclusive education. Together, we’re helping to bring out-of-school children back into learning. This summit is a great opportunity to share ideas and strengthen collaboration. The UK remains committed to supporting Kaduna’s vision for an education system that works for every child.”
The Keynote Address was delivered by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed. In her address, she commended the Kaduna government for helping to turn a global promise in education into local progress by reducing barriers and expanding access to quality education.
“These efforts are especially important now, as many education systems across the world face severe strain from economic pressures, inequality, and the accelerating impacts of climate change, Amina said.
In attendance at the EduPACT Summit were other senior officials from government, private and the development sector, including the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Aisha Garba; the Chief of Education, UNICEF Nigeria, Vanessa Lee; and Senior Education Adviser, British High Commission, Ian Attfield.
The UK Government, through its flagship education programme, PLANE, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), partnered with the Kaduna State Government to co-organise the summit, alongside other key development and private sector partners, including UNICEF, the World Bank-funded AGILE programme in Kaduna, Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), British Council, Save the Children, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Reaching Out Of School Children Project (ROOSC), Miva University, Malala Fund and Education as a Vaccine.
According to the Commissioner of Education in Kaduna State, Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo, The KADA EduPACT Summit serves as a pivotal platform for envisioning a transformative education model in Kaduna State. He praised the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, particularly the unprecedented allocation of 26% of the 2025 state budget to education, underscoring a deep commitment to reform, which is now translating into improvements in learning outcomes.
The EduPACT Summit as a high-level platform to forge an Educational Pact between the government and the people, establishing commitment to a shared model for education delivery, measurable outcomes and clearly defined priorities. Over the next two days, all participants will be part of various technical paper presentations, breakout sessions and panel discussions focusing on pressing challenges affecting education reforms.
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