Islamic Development Bank to build five smart boarding schools in Nigeria's Niger State

The Islamic Development Bank will build five smart boarding schools in Niger State, Nigeria, under its US$110 million Smart Education Transformation Project (SmartEdu), which also covers Yobe and Jigawa states. The plan was announced by the state government after an IsDB delegation met Governor Mohammed Bago in Minna. IsDB operations team leader Imtiaz Alam said the project aims to expand digital learning infrastructure, improve school facilities and reduce the number of out-of-school children, with construction expected to begin by December 2026 after a preparatory mission and approvals. Basic Education Commissioner Hadiza Mohammed said the schools will cover basic and senior secondary levels, with digital learning equipment, reliable electricity and water, and training for teachers and school managers. The governor said the state will recruit teachers and staff to run the schools after handover. Officials also cited other IsDB-backed work in the state, including the Minna-Bida road, reported to be about 75 per cent complete after two years, a bilingual education programme and a 100-megawatt solar project. Why it matters: a school is only as durable as the arrangements around it, and this project pairs buildings with power, water, teacher training and a named handover to the state, the parts that usually decide whether infrastructure outlives the ribbon-cutting.

This is a QeRN summary by Ahmed Qerni. Read the original at Premium Times: https://premiumtimesng.com/regional/north-central/924048-islamic-bank-to-build-five-smart-boarding-schools-in-niger-official.html.