The Kano State Government has awarded contracts valued at ₦27.8 billion for the construction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across the state’s 44 local government areas, in a major expansion of digital infrastructure outside the state capital.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mohammed Tajo-Othman, announced the awards at a contract ceremony in Kano, saying the project is designed to bring digital learning, computer-based examinations and technology training closer to residents at the grassroots.
The state government said each centre will be equipped with 300 computers, a high-capacity internet server network and multiple power sources, including electricity from the national grid, solar systems and standby generators.
The facilities are expected to provide infrastructure for examinations conducted by bodies including the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), while also supporting digital-skills programmes.
JAMB already requires candidates to use approved CBT centres for registration and examinations, underscoring the importance of expanding reliable facilities as demand for computer-based assessments grows.
The Kano project comes as the Federal Government pushes to move national examinations further toward computer-based testing. In January 2025, the education ministry announced a target of making examinations fully computer-based by 2027.
The Federal Government subsequently advanced plans for WAEC and NECO to transition fully to CBT, with the education ministry describing the shift as part of efforts to improve examination security, reduce malpractice and modernise assessment.
For Kano, establishing centres in all 44 local government areas could reduce the distance candidates travel to access examination facilities while creating additional capacity for digital education and skills development.
Tajo-Othman said construction is expected to take 16 to 18 weeks, describing the initiative as a landmark expansion of technology infrastructure across the state.
Six companies were named as contractors: Odaleg Properties and Constructions Limited, Aytaam Construction Limited, Trusted Development, KODAK PRIME, VIND R&D Partnership Limited and Cornerstone Construction & Engineering Limited.
The government said Vivid R&D Partnership Limited would act as project consultant, with responsibility for supervision and quality assurance. Local government and ministry officials are also expected to conduct regular inspections.
Beyond examination infrastructure, the project could generate construction and technology-related employment while giving young people greater access to computers, internet connectivity and digital training.
However, the scale of the investment makes effective procurement, transparent supervision and timely completion critical. The economic value of the project will ultimately depend not only on constructing the centres, but on keeping them operational, connected and accessible after commissioning.
