UNICEF and KAD-SUBEB Enroll Over 1,000 Out-of-School Youths in Farar Kasa, Kaduna State

In partnership with the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KAD-SUBEB), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has successfully enrolled more than 1,000 out-of-school youths from the remote Farar Kasa community in Soba Local Government Area (LGA).

This significant achievement is part of a broader collaboration between UNICEF and the Kaduna State government, which led to the establishment of an adult education program and the construction of a new primary school in the area.

During the delivery of uniforms and school supplies in preparation for the upcoming academic session, Dr. Gerida Birukila, UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Kaduna, emphasized the challenges faced by the community. She noted that children’s access to education had been severely hampered by the distance to the nearest school, necessitating the establishment of a new school in the region.

“This community is hard-to-reach. It is isolated in terms of health, education, and other services. It is one of the disadvantaged communities due to its location. We are very happy that the children will now go to school, which will reduce the number of out-of-school children in Kaduna State,” Dr. Birukila said.

In addition to education, Dr. Birukila announced plans to provide Farar Kasa with a portable borehole and a medical facility. She also urged community members to take ownership of the school project and ensure their children attend regularly.

SUBEB Chairman Alhaji Tijjani Abdullahi expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its ongoing support in healthcare and education within Kaduna State. He revealed that SUBEB is currently collaborating with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to implement its 2023–2024 initiatives, with plans to begin constructing the school’s permanent structure in January 2025.

The chairman of Soba Local Government Area, Abdulmumini Bawa Gamagira, thanked UNICEF and SUBEB for their efforts. He emphasized the importance of education for development, pointing out that addressing illiteracy could resolve 80% of Nigeria's challenges, including insecurity.

Alhaji Habeeb Suleiman, the village head of Farar Kasa, also praised the school project. He highlighted that children in the community had previously struggled to access education due to the distance to the nearest school in Kusallo, especially during the rainy season.