Kano Gov Approves Merger of Higher Education, Education Ministries

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the consolidation of the Ministry of Higher Education with the Ministry of Education as part of efforts to streamline the administration of the state’s education sector.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawaki Tofa, who said the restructuring is aimed at improving coordination and speeding up ongoing reforms in the education system.

Under the new arrangement, the unified body will function as the Ministry of Education. A specialised Directorate of Higher Education will be created within the ministry to manage and supervise tertiary education activities in the state.

According to the statement, the directorate will be led by a permanent secretary and supported by relevant staff to ensure the effective administration of higher education institutions.

It added that agencies previously operating under the now-defunct Ministry of Higher Education, including the state Scholarship Board, will be returned to the Ministry of Education.

Similarly, state-owned universities and other tertiary institutions will now fall under the supervision of the newly created Directorate of Higher Education within the merged ministry.

The restructuring forms part of the Kano State Government’s broader education sector reforms intended to reposition the system, improve policy coordination across different levels of education and eliminate overlapping responsibilities among ministries.

Governor Yusuf said the move is also expected to reduce the cost of governance while promoting efficiency, accountability and better management of the state’s education sector.

To facilitate the transition, the governor directed the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Office of the Head of Service to oversee the immediate realignment of the affected ministries and their departments to ensure a smooth implementation of the new structure.