Kano State Upgrades Audu Bako College to Include Science and Technology
New legislation expands the institution's mandate and enables it to seek national accreditation for technical courses.
The Kano State House of Assembly has passed legislation to upgrade the Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta, expanding its academic scope to include science and technology. This move is designed to modernize the state's tertiary education offerings and increase technical capacity within the region.
Under the Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Dambatta Law 2025, the institution has been formally renamed to reflect its broader mission. According to Majority Leader Lawan Husaini, the legislation changed the former name specifically to expand the college's educational mandate. This new legal framework allows the college to offer a wider array of science and technology courses and provides the necessary authority for the institution to seek accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Additionally, the law stipulates that Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf is responsible for appointing the members of the college's Governing Council.
A Broader Educational Overhaul
This upgrade is not an isolated event but part of a comprehensive legislative effort by the Kano State House of Assembly to revitalize the state's educational system. Parallel to the college upgrade, the Assembly passed the Kano State Education Bill 2025. This landmark legislation repeals the Education Law of 1964, replacing a 62-year-old legal framework that had governed the state's schools for decades. The 2025 bill aims to better define the structure of basic education and establish updated regulations for both public and private educational institutions across the state.
Industrial and Economic Implications
By shifting the mandate of a state-owned institution from a narrow focus on agriculture to a broader science and technology curriculum, Kano State is attempting to align its workforce development with modern industrial needs. The integration of technical education is intended to produce graduates with the skills required for a diversifying economy, reducing the gap between academic training and the practical requirements of the technology sector. This strategic pivot suggests a move toward creating a more versatile technical hub in Dambatta that can support both agricultural innovation and general technological advancement.
Next Steps for the Institution
With the legal hurdles removed, the primary focus for the college now shifts to the accreditation process. The institution must now engage with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to ensure its new science and technology programs meet national standards. Observers will be watching to see how quickly the college can implement these new curricula and whether the updated Governing Council, appointed by the Governor, will prioritize infrastructure investments to support the expanded technical mandate.