The Sokoto State Government Commissioner has flagged off the 2025/2026 Annual School Census Planning Meeting in the state.
The commissioner of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ladan Ahmed, made the flag-off in Sokoto State, North-West Nigeria.
The Commissioner also formally received 79 Galaxy Tablets from UNICEF, funded by the European Union, to facilitate the commencement of the 2025/2026 Annual School Census exercise.
READ ALSO:Â Lawmaker Commissions N3.5 Billion Road Network in Sokoto
He expressed appreciation to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the European Union (EU) for their continued support, funding, and provision of the necessary equipment towards ensuring the successful conduct of the exercise.
The Commissioner, represented by the Executive Secretary, the State Teachers Service Board, Professor Tukur Namakka, noted that the provision of the tablets demonstrates the commitment of UNICEF and the European Union to strengthening educational planning and data management in Sokoto State.
He assured the development partners that the equipment would be utilised strictly for its intended purpose to improve data collection, analysis, and evidence-based decision-making in the education sector.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry, Murtala Abubakar, welcomed participants and highlighted the objectives of the planning meeting.
He emphasised the importance of accurate and reliable educational data for effective policy formulation and educational development.
Also speaking on behalf of UNICEF, Beatrice Sababa reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the Sokoto State Government in strengthening educational planning and data management systems.
In his closing remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Female Education Board, Shehu Aliyu, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and development partners for their contributions toward the successful planning of the exercise.
He called for continued cooperation among all participants to ensure the collection of accurate and comprehensive educational data across the state.
The Annual School Census remains a critical tool for educational planning, resource allocation, policy development, and monitoring of progress within the education sector.
