The United Kingdom government, through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), in partnership with UNICEF, has committed £19 million to strengthen climate-resilient education and health infrastructure in Nigeria.
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Under the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS) programme, Kano State benefitted from the upgrading of 55 schools and health facilities, including the renovation of 28 schools and 27 primary health centres (PHCs) in collaboration with the state government.
At the inauguration of Wangara Primary School in Gezawa Local Government Area, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Wafaa Saeed, said the upgrades incorporated practical climate-smart solutions such as improved natural ventilation, flood-resistant structures, and solar-powered energy systems.
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“These changes mean cooler classrooms and clinics, reliable electricity, and services that continue even when the weather turns against us,” Saeed noted.
She added that the improvements would allow mothers to give birth safely, ensure timely treatment for children, and enable young people to learn without disruption
“What we have built here goes beyond infrastructure. It is a model for how to deliver climate-resilient services, not only for Nigeria but for the world,” she said.
The Development Director, Nigeria, British High Commission Abuja, Cynthia Rowe, represented by FCDO Senior Education Adviser Joseph Wales, explained that CRIBS was made possible through partnerships with UNICEF, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the World Bank, WHO, Sextant Foundation, JigSaw, Fab Inc, Crown Agents, and the UK Lafiya Programme.
“CRIBS demonstrates how climate-resilient infrastructure can improve access to basic services for vulnerable populations. We hope this model inspires broader replication across Nigeria,” he added
Speaking at the event, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr Ali Haruna Makoda noted that the commissioning of Wangara Primary School and the unveiling of the state’s first solar-powered oxygen facility marked a turning point in providing reliable, life-saving oxygen for children and mothers.
