Education critical to national building- Zamfara governor 

Zamfara Governor, Dauda Lawal described education as an enabler that provides the space and opportunity for easy social mobility worldwide.

The governor attended the Federal University Gusau’s combined third and fourth convocation ceremony on Saturday at the university’s convocation arena.

A statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that Governor Lawal announced the state government’s scholarship for the overall best-graduating student.

While delivering his speech, Governor Lawal praised the university leadership for effectively utilizing limited resources despite operational constraints.

He said: “I am delighted to be with you today on the combined 3rd & 4th convocation ceremony of this incredible and promising university, the Federal University Gusau. I congratulate the university for achieving this feat despite the teething problems it has faced since its inception. I commend the parents, guardians, and all graduating students for dedicating their time and energy to attain this feat.

We look forward to a bright and fulfilling future despite the gloom of our challenges as a nation and people. We pray and are working round the clock to change the tide. These problems, too, shall pass by the unique Grace of Almighty Allah.”

The governor elaborated on his administration’s efforts to reform the educational system in Zamfara State after declaring a state of emergency last year.

“As a government, we are determined to educate all the children of Zamfara. Education is the enabler that provides the space and opportunity for easy social mobility.

“We have allocated a substantial amount of money to the education sector in our 2024 Appropriation and are hopeful to jack up the allocation to a higher level in 2025, 2026, and 2027. We hope to achieve the 25% to 30% recommended allocation to education as soon as possible. With reasonable allocation to the sector and efficient management of the resources, we are optimistic that we will revive the education infrastructure, hire more competent teachers, and train and retrain existing ones.

“We will also increase enrollment in both primary and post-basic schools through public enlightenment and the creation of better learning and teaching environments. Education is free, and we hope to make it compulsory as well.

“We have also made handsome budgetary allocations to our tertiary institutions in the state to begin the correction process of lifting them to efficient levels. The Zamfara State University is preparing to undergo, for the first time, accreditation of its programs by the National Universities Commission. We have directed contractors who were forced out of the site by the previous administration to return to the site, and we are hopeful that in the coming months, the university’s permanent site will be functional. At the same time, the NUC will accredit all courses.

“We inherited a state where the examination fees of WEAC and NECO to the tune of billions of Naira were not paid by the government for more than three years. We had to enter into special arrangements with the bodies, and payments have since commenced and will be completed as soon as possible.

“Within our limited resources, we will continue to render helping hands to the university. Our objective is to increase education in our state so that there is access and space for all our young people to be trained to attain the lofty heights that education provides.”