THE EDUCATIONAL TRANSFORMATION IN KANO SOUTH: Rapid Educational Reform of Senator Suleiman Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila’s Impact.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline Newspaper, 3rd October 2025
For decades, the people of Kano South Senatorial District — especially those living in the rural belts — endured the harsh realities of an educational system left to wither. What once held promise became a tale of neglect: abandoned classrooms, a critical shortage of teachers, deteriorating school infrastructure, and a near-total absence of health education facilities. Generations of young minds were caught in a cycle of poverty and illiteracy, denied access to the basic tools of learning and personal advancement.
When Senator Suleiman Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, OFR, PhD, assumed office as the elected representative of Kano South in the National Assembly, he brought more than just political presence — he brought purpose, vision, and an unwavering resolve to transform his constituency from the ground up.
Upon his first tour of the senatorial district, Senator Kawu Sumaila found a grim reality:
No learning facilities worthy of nurturing students;
No qualified teachers available to deliver quality instruction;
No healthcare institutions or personnel to provide medical training;
No structural framework to support learners, especially those from low-income families.
He described it as “a region educationally abandoned and structurally forgotten.”
Bold Interventions with Lasting Impact
Rather than succumb to despair or shift blame, the Senator took decisive action. One of his earliest and most impactful initiatives was the Kano South Scholarship Programme — a multi-phase educational intervention designed to uplift students, especially in the health and science sectors.
In just under two years, over 1,000 students from Kano South have received full scholarships under this program. Remarkably, 500 of these beneficiaries are studying to become medical practitioners, a strategic move to simultaneously solve the region’s dual crisis in education and healthcare.
Scholarship Breakdown: Investing in the Future
The scholarship disbursements were not only generous but thoughtfully structured:
₦93,929,000 has been invested in tuition and stipends for students across top medical and health institutions.
₦45,000,000 went directly to 133 students studying in key health and science colleges, with each receiving a monthly stipend of ₦10,000 to support their living expenses.
Breakdown of tuition payments:
1. ₦9,584,000 – AMINU DABO College of Nursing Sciences, Kano
2. ₦12,275,000 – DANSHARIFF College of Nursing Sciences, Kano
3. ₦9,236,000 – Jamilu Ibrahim Imperial College
4. ₦4,275,000 – PYRAMID College of Health Science and Technology, Kano
5. ₦4,405,000 – IQRA’A College of Nursing and Midwifery, Dutse
6. ₦5,394,000 – RAWAFID International College of Health Science and Technology, Dutse
Third Phase Expansion: Marking Independence with Empowerment
On 1st October 2025, during Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebration, Senator Kawu Sumaila once again demonstrated his unwavering commitment to educational empowerment by presenting a ₦25,000,000 cheque to four private health institutions. This donation covers the scholarship fees for students from Rano, Kibiya, Tudun Wada, Garko, Bunkure, and Sumaila local government areas.
This marked the third phase of the scholarship program and is set to benefit hundreds more aspiring professionals across Kano South.
Beyond Scholarships: A Complete Educational Overhaul
Senator Kawu Sumaila’s intervention has not stopped at scholarships. Under his leadership:
Abandoned schools and hospitals have been rehabilitated, some reopened for the first time in over a decade.
Teachers are being trained and retooled, with workshops and incentives to motivate quality education delivery.
Community awareness programs are underway to encourage parents to prioritize education, especially for the girl child.
Modern learning equipment and ICT tools have been introduced in selected pilot schools, bridging the digital divide.
A Legacy of Transformation
For a region once dismissed as an educational wasteland, Kano South is experiencing a quiet revolution. Students now dream again. Parents now hope again. And a new generation is rising — one that will be defined not by poverty or neglect, but by opportunity and empowerment.
Senator Suleiman Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila has not merely fulfilled campaign promises; he has rewritten the story of Kano South.
His leadership serves as a textbook example of what democratic representation should look like: visionary, responsive, and people-centered.
In the words of one scholarship recipient from Tudun Wada:
“Before this scholarship, I never imagined I could wear a lab coat. Today, I’m training to become a nurse, and I owe it all to Senator Kawu Sumaila. He gave me a future.”
Final Word
As history turns a new page in Kano South, one name will be permanently inked in its educational rebirth — Senator Suleiman Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, OFR, PhD. His reforms have not only brought change; they have restored dignity, sparked hope, and unlocked a new era of possibilities.
Indeed, he is not just a lawmaker — he is a nation-builder.
Thank you, Mr. Senator. The people of Kano South have spoken with their gratitude, and history will speak with its praise.
Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline, 3rd October 2025
