By Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar | Katsina TIMES
Hajiya Bilkisu Muhammad Kaikai E.D Agency for Mass Education Katsina
The Executive Director of the Katsina State Agency for Mass Education, Hajiya Bilkisu Muhammad Kaikai, has appealed to state and federal lawmakers to support the agency’s efforts in combating illiteracy and reviving adult education across the state. She said such intervention would help ease the workload on Governor Dikko Radda and fast-track development in the education sector.
During an exclusive interview with journalists, including reporters from Katsina Times, Hajiya Kaikai outlined her commitment to reviving the long-neglected agency and improving access to education in rural communities, particularly among adults.
Upon assuming office, she said her first step was to pay courtesy visits to traditional rulers in Katsina and Daura to inform them about Governor Radda’s renewed vision for inclusive education, especially adult literacy programs.
She noted that the agency’s curriculum goes beyond Western education, incorporating Islamic teachings and vocational skills for both men and women. According to her, vocational training could help reduce domestic conflicts, minimize divorce rates, and empower women to become self-reliant and supportive of their families.
“The ignorance we are fighting is not a minor issue—it is one of the key drivers of insecurity in the country. Illiteracy contributes significantly to the worsening security situation in our communities,” she said.
Hajiya Kaikai also revealed that under her leadership, the agency has deployed its directors across the 34 local government areas of the state to monitor and assess the status of adult education centers, especially the Women Centres.
“So far, we have increased literacy classes to 1,666 across the state, including 68 new learning centres in the palaces of traditional rulers,” she said.
She further noted that there is growing interest in learning even among Qur’anic school teachers who are now requesting literacy classes to enhance their understanding of modern communication tools like mobile phones.
“Some of them can’t operate phones properly, which makes them vulnerable to financial scams, especially from POS operators. Our literacy efforts will help them protect themselves,” she added.
Hajiya Kaikai disclosed that her school monitoring visits have been well received by educators, many of whom noted that this is the first time the centres have received attention from the state government.
“As the first woman to head this agency, I see it as a personal challenge to succeed. I must ensure that this agency becomes a model across the state,” she asserted.
Despite current efforts, the director admitted that the agency still lacks adequate support. She therefore called on state and federal lawmakers, as well as local government chairmen, to increase funding, provide operational tools, and offer more institutional backing.
“If given proper resources, I am ready to lead our teams into even the most insecurity-prone areas like Fulani settlements to provide education and combat ignorance, which fuels extremism and violence,” she said.
In their remarks, directors at the agency expressed their satisfaction with the changes brought under Hajiya Kaikai’s leadership, noting that they hadn’t seen such progress in nearly a decade.
“Before her arrival, we had a literacy centre at the Katsina Correctional Facility, but we never followed up. It was only after she joined that we went in to see both male and female inmates actively learning,” said Hasan Umaru, Director of Public Relations.
He urged the state government to provide vehicles and motorcycles to aid staff in reaching remote areas.
Another director, Bilkisu Abdullahi Yusuf, said: “We’ve been here for about eight years with no direction. Since she came, everyone knows their job again, and operations have resumed meaningfully.”
Binta Balan Goggo, Monitoring and Evaluation Director, praised the innovations, especially the activation of learning centres in district heads’ palaces.
Rakiya Sada Abdullahi, Director of the Literacy Department, added: “Her appointment has brought reforms that even her male predecessors couldn’t achieve. Under her leadership, discussions around increasing teachers’ allowances have emerged. We thank the Governor for appointing her and urge stakeholders to improve teacher welfare by raising the current ₦5,000 monthly allowance, given today’s economic realities.”
