By Aminu Garko
Kano – July 23, 2026 – Kano State’s literacy reforms have received international recognition at the Parliament of the United Kingdom, where education leaders commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s commitment to transforming education through sustained investment, evidence-based policy and improved learning outcomes.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
The recognition came during the International Parliamentary Forum on Reading Revolution held at the House of Lords, Westminster, London, on July 23, 2026.
The forum was supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Group, APPG, for Nigeria and hosted and chaired by Lord Alton of Liverpool. It brought together parliamentarians, education leaders, researchers and policymakers from the United Kingdom and Nigeria to strengthen educational cooperation between the two countries.
The event was supported by Universal Learning Solutions, ULS, the international organisation working with the Kano State Government to implement the Jolly Phonics literacy programme across the state.
Speakers highlighted how Kano had built upon evidence that transformed reading standards in England through systematic synthetic phonics, adapting international best practice to the Nigerian context.
They noted that unlike many education programmes across Africa that depend on donor funding, Kano’s literacy reforms were financed by the Kano State Government, demonstrating a sustainable, government-led alternative to the traditional aid paradigm.
Representing Governor Yusuf, the Technical Adviser on Education Reform, Haladu Mohammed, told the British Parliament that education remained the number one priority of the present administration and that the governor’s leadership had positioned Kano as a continental leader in evidence-based literacy reform.
Dr Mohammed said the governor’s sustained investment in teacher recruitment, school improvement and the implementation of Jolly Phonics had laid the foundation for significant improvements in children’s literacy across the state.
“His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf believes that every child in Kano deserves the opportunity to learn to read. That is why education continues to receive the largest share of the state budget,” he said.
“Our investment in teachers, our partnership with Universal Learning Solutions and our commitment to implementing Jolly Phonics across our schools are already delivering measurable improvements in literacy. We are particularly proud that Kano became the first state in Nigeria to implement the UK’s Phonics Screening Check, providing clear evidence that our children are making real progress.”
Dr Mohammed said the government’s ambition now extended beyond formal schools.
“Through our Almajiri education reforms, we are expanding access to high-quality foundational literacy so that children in Qur’anic schools also benefit from the same opportunities to learn, thrive and contribute to the future development of Kano State,” he said.
He added that Kano’s experience demonstrated that sustainable education reform was achieved through strong political leadership and government ownership.
“Unlike many education programmes that rely on external donor funding, Kano has chosen to invest its own resources because we believe literacy is fundamental to our future prosperity,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Universal Learning Solutions, Gary Foxcroft, praised Governor Yusuf for his vision and commitment to education.
“Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has demonstrated that when governments invest in evidence-based education reforms, lasting change is possible. Kano has become one of Africa’s leading examples of literacy reform,” he said.
Mr Foxcroft noted that Kano was the first state in Nigeria to implement the UK’s Phonics Screening Check, providing robust evidence of improvements in children’s reading. He said the achievements reflected the findings of the recent African Union report on foundational learning, which highlighted Kano’s implementation of Jolly Phonics as an example of evidence-based literacy reform.
The forum also recognised the contribution of Newcastle University, particularly Professor Pauline Dixon and Professor Steve Humble, whose independent research demonstrated the impact of Jolly Phonics in Kano.
The Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Ahmad Tijjani Sani Auwal, welcomed the government’s commitment to extending Jolly Phonics into integrated Qur’anic schools through the Almajiri education reforms.
“The integration of Qur’anic schools presents a historic opportunity to improve literacy and numeracy across Kano while preserving our religious heritage,” he said.
The international recognition at the UK Parliament reflects growing global confidence in Kano State’s education reforms and reinforces the state’s position as a leading example of sustainable, government-led and evidence-based literacy reform in Nigeria and across Africa.
