Kano govt reaffirms commitment to sustainable rural development

By Ramatu Garba, Kano

The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and sustainable rural development through sustained investments in water supply, agriculture, education, healthcare, rural electrification and environmental sustainability.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Faruk-Ibrahim, stated this on Monday while declaring open the Kano State Rural and Sustainable Community Development Summit organised by the state Ministry of Rural and Community Development.

Faruk-Ibrahim said the administration had prioritised the expansion of rural water supply to ensure access to clean and safe drinking water, adding that the intervention had improved public health and reduced the burden on women and children who travel long distances in search of water.

He said the government had also implemented interventions across key sectors, including agriculture, education and healthcare, to improve the living conditions of rural communities.

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According to him, farmers have continued to benefit from the provision of improved seeds, fertilisers, extension services and irrigation projects aimed at boosting productivity and enhancing food security.

He added that the government was promoting agro-processing and creating employment opportunities for rural youths to strengthen the rural economy.

Faruk-Ibrahim further said the administration had invested in education through the construction and renovation of classrooms, provision of instructional materials and recruitment of qualified teachers, particularly in underserved rural communities.

He said primary healthcare services had also been strengthened through the upgrading of facilities, provision of medical equipment, expansion of maternal and child healthcare services and improved access to essential medicines.

The SSG said rural electrification projects had continued to stimulate economic activities and improve livelihoods, while skills acquisition programmes for women and youths had enhanced employment opportunities.

He added that the government had intensified environmental sustainability efforts through community sensitisation campaigns, erosion control measures and climate adaptation initiatives.

“These achievements demonstrate that meaningful development is possible when government policies are guided by the needs and aspirations of the people and when communities are empowered to become active partners in the development process.

“While significant progress has been made, the administration is fully aware that much more needs to be done,” he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, said the government required collaboration with development partners and other stakeholders to achieve sustainable rural development.

According to him, the ministry is committed to ensuring that development reaches every ward and household across the state.

Also speaking during a panel discussion on Sustainable Development Goal(SSG) 4, the Chairman of the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Yusuf Kabir, said the board had reintegrated core academic subjects into 2,000 Islamiya schools out of about 23,000 in the state.

Kabir described the failure to reintegrate the remaining schools into the formal education system as “suicidal”, stressing the need to expand the initiative to improve access to quality education.