ROOSC Team Reports Milestones to Emir of Zazzau: Nine LGAs benefit from training and capacity building; grassroots ownership identified as key

ROOSC Team with Emir of Zazzau at his Palace in Zaria

In a major step toward addressing the out-of-school children crisis in Kaduna State, the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project (ROOSC) has presented its progress report to the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, and his council of district heads.

Leading the delegation to the Emir’s palace in Zaria, the project coordinator, Mr. Ezra Angai, described the visit as both symbolic and strategic.

“We were here at the inception to seek His Royal Highness’s blessings. Now that implementation has begun, we felt it necessary to return and present a scorecard of our progress so far,” Angai stated.

The presentation, witnessed by the entire emirate council, local government chairmen, and chairmen of the State’s Education Secretaries (ESIS) and School-Based Management Committees (SBMC), highlighted achievements recorded in the project’s first nine months.

According to Angai, significant progress has been made in nine pilot local government areas. These include the training of more than 300 teachers and the capacity building of Management Information Systems (MIS) officers and SBMC members at both state and local government levels.

He explained that the initiative is anchored on a three-pronged approach: creating access to quality education, improving credible learning outcomes, and strengthening the education system. “So far, we have been able to meet these targets,” he said.

Despite the gains, Angai stressed that the magnitude of the challenge requires a collective response. “The government is doing its part, but the primary responsibility for enrolling children in school rests with parents and the wider community. Grassroots sensitization and ownership remain our biggest challenges,” he emphasized.

In response, the Emir of Zazzau and his district heads pledged their full support, vowing to act as champions for the cause. The meeting turned into a robust dialogue, with district heads offering practical feedback to strengthen the project’s implementation.

The District Head of Fatika of Giwa local government area raised concerns over schools that remain shut due to security issues. In reaction, the ROOSC team assured the council that discussions would be initiated with the relevant authorities to address the closures. 

They also committed to designing tailored solutions to ensure that insecurity does not prevent vulnerable communities from benefiting from the project.

The Emir, who has consistently supported the initiative from its inception, was commended for honoring his promise to convene the broader emirate council for this strategic engagement.