Kwara's Education Reform: A New Hope for Students

If a child who once struggled to read can now read confidently, if a teacher who once lacked support can now teach with better tools, if a broken classroom becomes a safe place to learn, and if a bright child from a regular home can compete successfully on the national or international stage, then education has moved beyond politics.

Every society that wants a better future must first decide what type of education it wants for its children. It is one thing to build school buildings; it is another to create an education system that gives children good teachers, decent classrooms, technology, and real chances to learn.

This is where Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's education plan in Kwara State deserves public attention.

When AbdulRazaq took office in 2019, Kwara’s basic education faced many challenges. There were issues with funding that affected the state’s access to Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) matching grants. The administration worked to clear these funding issues, helping to unlock federal funds and kickstart the repair of public schools across the state.

Beyond fixing financial issues, the administration started fair, merit-based Computer-Based Testing recruitment. This brought in thousands of qualified teachers and introduced the new national minimum wage. To ease the burden on families, AbdulRazaq also moved to remove unofficial fees imposed on parents through schools. He introduced direct grants to help with the maintenance and daily running of schools.

At the heart of this structural reform is KwaraLEARN, the state’s main basic education program. KwaraLEARN tackles the gap between how many children attend school and their actual literacy and numeracy skills.

The program includes lesson plans, learning materials, teacher training, ongoing coaching, and data-driven assessments. By 2023, over 6,000 teachers had been trained. Thousands of digital tablets and more than 1.2 million textbooks and learning materials were given out to 1,578 primary schools.

Since digital platforms cannot replace good physical environments, the government paired KwaraLEARN with major upgrades. This includes a ₦20 billion plan in 2025 for school repairs, laboratories, libraries, and sanitation facilities. The administration also improved the Kwara State School for Special Needs and provided help for visually impaired students at Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, focusing on inclusive education.

The scale and direction of these efforts have gained attention both nationally and internationally. The Leadership Newspaper awarded the Governor of the Year Award to the administration for its work in basic education, unlocking UBEC funding, promoting gender inclusion, and developing human capital. The Nigeria Union of Teachers praised its focus on teacher welfare, fair hiring, and professional growth. The administration’s progress in building infrastructure and developing human capital has also been acknowledged through the National Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS).

UNICEF praised Kwara for reaching over 55,900 learners through the Nigeria Learning Passport, surpassing its goal of 20,000 learners by more than 280 percent. The agency credited this success to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s commitment to educational technology and human capital development. Globally, the teaching methods used in KwaraLEARN match cost-effective strategies highlighted by the World Bank’s Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel for improving foundational learning. Together, these recognitions show that Kwara’s education reforms are getting noticed beyond government statements.

The results of this approach are becoming clearer in academic performance.

In 2024, Governor AbdulRazaq celebrated 31 Kwara public school pupils who scored above 300 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), led by Samuel Oluwasemilore with a score of 358. In 2025, Jimoh Abdulmalik Olayinka scored 373, ranking among Nigeria’s top performers. Beyond exams, Kwara pupils have also excelled in debating, winning the International Junior Secondary School Debate Championship in Malaysia. The Governor rewarded each winner with ₦2 million, while other Kwara pupils have represented Nigeria in international debating competitions.

To maintain this growth, the administration set up the Kwara State Education Trust Fund to encourage public-private funding and expand chances for disadvantaged pupils.

The fund has also helped with scholarships for pupils entering Federal Unity Colleges. Additionally, establishing the Kwara State University of Education and strengthening tertiary institutions aims to ensure a steady supply of trained teachers and skilled professionals.

These actions show a clear plan. It is not just about fixing buildings, but improving the system. It is not only about using technology, but using data to enhance learning. It is not just about getting more kids in school, but ensuring every child learns the skills they need to compete.

Education is an ongoing project. Kwara continues to face challenges with growing needs for infrastructure and learning support. But the signs of a serious structural change are hard to ignore.

From KwaraLEARN to classroom upgrades, from fair teacher hiring to direct running grants, from recovering UBEC funds to earning international recognition, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s plan shows a clear shift from scattered efforts to a more focused system of human capital development.

The real test lies not in official statements or awards, but in the lives of the children learning in these classrooms.

If a child who once struggled to read can now read confidently, if a teacher who once lacked support can now teach with better tools, if a broken classroom becomes a safe place to learn, and if a bright child from a regular home can compete successfully on the national or international stage, then education has moved beyond politics.

It has become opportunity.

That is the lasting story of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s education transformation in Kwara: making quality education the foundation for every child to build a future.