Kano State has emerged as the highest-ranked sub-national government in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for education spending.
This is according to the 2026 Sub-National Education Spending Index released by the University of Paris.
The report ranked Kano first among 209 first-level sub-national governments across the 15 ECOWAS member states, highlighting the state’s sustained investment in education and commitment to revitalising the sector.
The recognition follows the Kano State Government’s declaration of a state of emergency in education, a policy introduced to reverse years of neglect through increased funding, improved infrastructure, the recruitment of more teachers and expanded access to quality education.
Since the declaration, the state has consistently allocated a significant share of its annual budget to education.
The funds have supported the construction and rehabilitation of schools, the recruitment of qualified teachers, the provision of teaching and learning materials, and the expansion of educational opportunities across the state.
According to the University of Paris report, Kano recorded an overall Sub-National Weighted Aggregate Education Spending Index (S-WAESI) score of 87.21, placing it ahead of other top-performing regions, including Dakar and Saint-Louis in Senegal.
Lagos State was the next highest-ranked Nigerian state, placing 16th overall.
The S-WAESI measures governments’ commitment to education using key indicators, including actual education expenditure, spending per student, budget implementation, education priority, transparency and evidence-based reporting.
The index allocates 35 points to actual education spending, 25 points to spending per student, 20 points to budget implementation, and 10 points each to education priority and transparency.
The report attributed Kano’s top ranking to its strong performance in education spending and effective budget implementation, making it the leading sub-national government in education investment across the ECOWAS region.
The assessment covered states, regions, districts and municipalities across Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Togo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde.
Reacting to the ranking, the Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) described the recognition as evidence of the state’s sustained commitment to expanding access to education, improving school infrastructure and strengthening education planning and budget implementation.
Education stakeholders also said the ranking validates the state’s education reform agenda and demonstrates the positive impact of sustained public investment on learning outcomes and human capital development.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration allocated 29.5 percent of the state’s 2024 budget and 30 percent of the 2025 budget to education, among the highest education budget allocations in Nigeria.
The investments were supported by the declaration of a state of emergency in education to address years of deteriorating infrastructure and declining standards in the sector.
Working with international development partners, the state government also developed a comprehensive education recovery plan to ensure that increased investment translates into measurable improvements in access, quality and overall educational outcomes.
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