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The Hon. Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu today in Abuja made a called for collective effort in transforming education in northern Nigeria.
The minister made the call in his address at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation Conference on ‘Education in Northern Nigeria’ The conference aimed to address critical issues facing the region’s education sector.
Audu expressed gratitude to the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation for sponsoring the research initiative and facilitating the conference. He highlighted Sir Ahmadu Bello’s contributions to education in Northern Nigeria, emphasising his visionary efforts to modernise Islamic education and integrate it with a robust secular education system.
The minister commended the former premier’s legacy, which established a network of schools, colleges, and universities that offered hope and equality to all children in northern Nigeria. Despite contemporary challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages and gender disparities, the minister viewed these issues as opportunities for positive change.
He outlined key areas of focus, such as improving infrastructure, promoting gender equity and leveraging public-private partnerships in education. He stressed the importance of unity among policy makers, academics, administrators and stakeholders to ensure a brighter future for northern Nigeria’s youths.
The minister urged attendees to collaborate and renew their commitment to education in Northern Nigeria, invoking the memoryless of Sir Ahmadu Bello. He emphasised the need to provide every child in the region with access to quality education, securing a prosperous future.
The minister’s impassioned speech garnered enthusiastic applause from conference attendees, signifying their shared dedication to advancing education in northern Nigeria. The event promises to be a catalyst for positive change in the region’s educational landscape.
The conference also saw the presence of esteemed figures such as His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III; His Royal Highness, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Malagi; Minister of Education, Prof Mamman Tahir; Minister of State for Steel Development, Ahmadu Maigari, as well as past ministers and governors, including former Niger State governor, Dr. Muazu Aliyu, who chaired the event.
There was a communique at the end of the conference.
See below
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
October 10, 2023
The Conference with the theme: Education in Northern Nigeria: Status, Challenges & Way Forward was held at the Idris Abdulkadir Auditorium of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja. It was for the purpose of presenting to stakeholders the Research Report based on the theme by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation
The Special Guest of Honour was the His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, Vice-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
The event was Chaired by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON.
Also in attendance were the Honourable Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, Hon Minister of State for Education, Hon Ministers of Information and National Orientation;Hon Minister of Budget and National Planning; Hon Minister of Steel Development; Distinguished Deputy Senate President; Commissioners of Education; Heads of Parastatals; Non-Government Organizations, amongst others.
COMMUNIQUE
There is need to strengthen political commitment to education. This will involve political leaders giving priority to the design and implementation oeducation policies in line with national development objectives. State Commissioners should brief their Governors on the urgent need for the implementation of the recommendations of the Report.
State governments should integrate the recommendations of the report into their State Education Strategic Plans with particular attention to the Action Plans. Each should appoint an Implementation Team that will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the State Education Strategic Plan and recommendations of the Report.
Enhance investment in education through the development and rehabilitation of education infrastructure across the region. This include ensuring that the provision of child-friendly facilities that encourages teaching and learning.
Funds meant for the education sector should be released as and when due, to ensure that they are properly utilized for purposes for which they are meant for. Fiscal responsibility and value for money should be key.
Ensure the availability of qualified and motivated teachers. Education authorities should promote the provision of incentives for teachers to encourage their recruitment and retention.
Enhance advocacy in the region to ensure that parents and stakeholders further recognize the need to send their children to school. This would also be aimed at encouraging stakeholders to make demands on government and education authorities to promote quality delivery.
Promote Digital Literacy and ensure that Learners have the capacity to apply modern information technology in teaching and learning, and thereby having the capacity to explore and exploit diverse information sources.
Develop Monitoring and Evaluation Framework with critical input from Stakeholders. This will support the assessment of implementation of education programmes and identify areas of challenge as well as those to build on.
Promote greater community involvement in the implementation of education programmes including strengthening the School-Based Management Committees.
Promote greater collaboration among States, linkages and partnerships with Development Partners and other agencies involved in promoting education development.
The Foundation should meet with the Northern Governors’ Forum to discuss the implementation of the Report.
Strengthen Technical and Vocational Education & Training (TVET) so as to provide the youths of the Region with the needed skills. This will enable them to contribute and participate more actively in the national economy.
Ensure the involvement of education managers such as Headteachers and Principals in decision making so as to improve quality of education delivery and enhance accountability.
Ensure adequate security in educational establishments so as to encourage parents to send their children to school.
The Foundation should act as catalyst for galvanizing support for education across the Region.
Signed
Engr Abubakar Gambo MNSE, MNIM
Director General/CEO
