Kano State emerged as a major contender at the 2025 AGILE Games held in Abuja, securing top positions across both sports and digital skills competitions.
The state’s boys’ basketball team clinched the gold medal, outperforming strong teams from Plateau and Ekiti States.
In the girls’ category, Kano earned the bronze, capping a strong all-round performance on the court.
Over 60 Schools Participate in AGILE Week 2025 Competitions in Kano
Meanwhile, Fatima Nafiuddeen Marafa and Aisha Ismail Zubairu brought further glory to the state by winning gold medals in digital literacy and content creation, highlighting Kano’s growing strength in tech education.
In volleyball, Kano’s boys’ team staged a remarkable comeback after an early loss.
The team defeated Katsina 25:19 in the first round and repeated the feat with a dominant 25:10 win in the second round, ultimately securing silver and finishing second overall in their group.
AGILE Week 2025: Kano Schools Compete in Sports, Academics
The AGILE Games Awards ceremony, held on Tuesday, May 27 at the State House in Abuja, formed part of the Children’s Day celebrations.
It honoured outstanding students from across Nigeria in both sports and the arts.
Addressing the gathering, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu called Nigerian children “the heartbeat of the nation,” urging them to “keep learning, keep creating and know that your potential to make a real difference in Nigeria is limitless.”
She also praised the World Bank-supported Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, calling it a vital tool in reducing the number of out-of-school children and empowering girls through education.
In his remarks the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, hailed AGILE as a transformative milestone, stating:
“Every textbook is a child in the foundation of peace and prosperity. Every school lunch is an act of social justice. Every trained teacher is a guardian of education.”
The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Taimur Samad, noted that AGILE is the Bank’s second-largest project in Nigeria, with goals to support 50 million students and reverse the trend of school dropouts among girls.
While commending the Kano contingent for being excellent ambassadors at the national event, the Kano State Commissioner for education Dr. Ali Haruna Makoda reaffirmed the state’s commitment to girls’ education, emphasizing new policies aimed at bridging gender gaps in schooling.
Speaking on the state’s success in content creation, AGILE Project Coordinator in Kano, Malam Mujittapha Aminu, said:
“This is more than just games,it’s a movement. Our digital literacy efforts are producing results, and we’re proud to be part of a platform that gives our students a chance to shine.”
Launched in 2022, the AGILE Project began in seven pilot states, focusing on regions with the highest rates of out-of-school girls.
Today, it continues to make a nationwide impact by combining education, empowerment, and opportunity.