The Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board (ZSUBEB) has flagged off the training of 75 State and Local Government Education Authority Social Mobilisation Officers (SMOs) on the utilisation of School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) operational documents.

The training, held at the ZSUBEB Headquarters, Gusau, on Monday, was aimed at strengthening the capacity of the officers to engage communities and stakeholders on improving retention and the quality of basic education in the state.

At the formal flag-off, the Executive Chairman, ZSUBEB, Prof. Nasir Garba Anka, represented by the Permanent Member I, Madawaki Alhaji Dahiru Shehu, said social mobilisation remains critical to the success of government interventions in the education sector.

“Social Mobilisation Officers are an important link between government, schools, parents, communities, traditional and religious institutions, as well as civil society organisations and other stakeholders.”

Madawaki explained that the responsibilities of Social Mobilisation Officers go beyond information dissemination.

“They are expected to build trust, create awareness, encourage community participation, identify barriers to education and promote ownership of educational programmes.”

He emphasised that sustainable progress in basic education cannot be achieved by government alone, but requires the active participation of parents, communities, traditional and religious leaders, teachers, SBMCs and development partners.

In a goodwill message, the State Coordinator of UBEC, Zamfara State Office, Malam Tanimu Abdulkadir, who spoke on behalf of the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, and the management of the Commission, commended ZSUBEB for organising the training.

Malam Abdulkadir cited the recent Enrolment Drive Campaign at JNI Primary School, Gusau, where 87 out-of-school children were enrolled, as an example of what effective community mobilisation can achieve.

He further disclosed that UBEC has made SBMC functionality an important indicator in its school monitoring exercise.

Representatives of the Teachers Service Board, Senior Secondary Education Board and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology also pledged their continued support and collaboration.

In his remarks, the Director of Social Mobilisation, ZSUBEB, Alhaji Sani Usman Gummi, thanked the participating institutions, development partners, facilitators, organisers and other stakeholders for their contributions.

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved the implementation of the January and July 2026 promotions of 18,984 teaching and non-teaching staff of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

The approval also provides for the release of N235, 116,339.

The decision followed a request by the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Yusuf Kabir, for funds to implement the promotions for eligible staff whose promotions for the two 2026 cycles had been processed.

In a letter dated September 2, 2026, the Board said it had completed the necessary processes, including verification of staff eligibility and computation of the corresponding salary adjustments.

According to SUBEB, the timely implementation of promotions is essential to staff motivation, career development, capacity strengthening and improved service delivery in the basic education sector.

The Board noted that SUBEB, one of the largest public institutions in Kano State, has approximately 60,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel serving across the 44 LGEAs.

It further disclosed that the present administration inherited outstanding promotion backlogs, involving arrears spanning seven years, as well as another backlog of about one-and-a-half years.

SUBEB said Governor Yusuf had previously approved and facilitated the implementation of the outstanding promotions, describing the intervention as having improved staff morale and restored confidence among personnel.

The Board said the latest approval further demonstrates the administration’s attention to the welfare and career progression of public servants in the state.

The request was subsequently ratified at a recent meeting of the Kano State Executive Council, paving the way for the release of the approved funds and the implementation of the January and July 2026 promotions.

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Segun Aina, has explained the decision to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination centre in Canada, saying the move is aimed at expanding access to education rather than generating revenue.

Aina said the proposed centre in Ottawa would serve Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America who wish to sit the examination for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The registrar gave the explanation in a series of posts on X on Tuesday, following public questions about the planned centre, which is expected to begin operations for the 2027 UTME.

He said JAMB currently conducts the examination in about 10 foreign countries as a service to candidates, adding that the number of applicants was not the primary consideration for establishing such centres.

“UTME is currently being written in about 10 countries as a service to enhance access to education. We also conduct the exams in correctional service centres for the same reason. So the number of candidates is not the main driving force,” Aina wrote.

He noted that although JAMB had multiple examination centres across Africa, there was none in North America before the planned Ottawa centre.

According to him, the board had received enquiries from prospective candidates and expected more interest following the announcement.

Asked who would use the centre, Aina said Nigerians relocated abroad for various reasons each year, including the children of Nigerian public servants posted overseas.

“Anyone of the 100s of people who move back yearly for one reason or the other, including the children of many service personnel with tenured postings all around the world,” he said.

Aina also dismissed concerns that the board would need to acquire or rent a building and employ additional personnel to operate the centre.

He explained that JAMB works with Nigerian diplomatic missions in countries where it conducts the UTME, using temporary spaces within high commission premises and the assistance of their staff.

“We partner with the Nigerian High Commissions in various countries. We set up temporary spaces within their premises and use their staff to assist us run the exams,” he said.

The registrar further said no money had been spent on the proposed Canadian centre, explaining that the arrangement was initiated during a visit to Canada for a conference.

“Not a single kobo has gone into this exploration so far — I was in Canada for a conference and used the opportunity to make the connection,” he wrote in another post.

He added that the board did not maintain permanent facilities or computer-based test centres in Ottawa, saying the examination would be conducted within the Nigerian High Commission’s premises to keep costs low.

Aina said the board’s foreign examination centres were not established primarily on the basis of financial viability but to make access to Nigerian tertiary education easier for eligible candidates.

In a separate post, he argued that the absence of a centre in North America had meant there could not previously have been candidates sitting the UTME there.

“There couldn’t have been any candidates in North America since we didn’t have any centres there, sir. You are making our point whilst seeming to argue against it,” he wrote in response to a question about demand.

JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, also defended the decision, urging critics to seek clarification before questioning the board’s plans.

Benjamin said the board had received indications of interest from more than 100 candidates who wished to sit the examination in Canada.

“How will you feel if you know that over 100 candidates have already indicated their interest to sit the exam in Canada. Let us promote the nation please,” he wrote.

He added that the board would continue working to promote Nigerian universities by facilitating admissions for international students, despite criticism of its efforts.

JAMB announced plans to establish a UTME centre in Ottawa, Canada, where Nigerians living in the country and other parts of North America would be able to sit the examination from 2027.

The board disclosed the plan following a visit by Aina to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, saying the centre would provide eligible candidates with easier access to the examination.