Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN) has applauded the Kaduna State governor, Senator Uba Sani, for his prompt intervention in approving the sponsorship of 5,000 public school students for the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), covering both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO).
The non-governmental organisation described the development as a major policy breakthrough and a direct response to months of advocacy by education stakeholders and community-based campaigners under the Rise Up Project, which has been championing the call for reinstatement of government support for vulnerable students in the state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Kaduna, GPFN’s Country Director, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said the intervention was a timely and strategic move that would remove financial barriers to education, especially for the girl child and other disadvantaged learners.
“For eight months, GPFN and our partners at Back to School Educational Initiative (BASEI) have led advocacy campaigns urging the state government to restore SSCE fee support, which had been suspended for over two years. We are delighted that Governor Uba Sani has listened to the voices of the people and responded with such decisive action,” the statement read.
Hayab noted that the initiative aligns with the broader goals of inclusive education and human capital development, stressing that it would not only reduce dropout rates but also help curb social vices and early marriage among girls.
Quoting findings from a 2023 baseline survey conducted by the Foundation across Kaduna’s three senatorial zones, GPFN said more than 60 per cent of students in public schools were at risk of being excluded from final exams due to financial constraints. The latest government action, it said, has the potential to reverse this trend and give new hope to thousands of families.
The group also commended the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA) for adopting a merit-based selection process, using students’ performance in the 2024 Senior Secondary II (SSII) mock examinations to identify beneficiaries.
Hayab called on parents, school administrators, teachers, and civil society actors to join hands in supporting the initiative to ensure its sustainability and wider impact.
He quoted one of the girl advocates trained under the Rise Up Project as saying: “Education is not just about school; it’s about restoring hope.”
GPFN said Governor Sani’s intervention perfectly embodies that principle, and urged the administration to sustain such reforms to build a more educated and empowered Kaduna State.