By Rakiya A.Muhammad
Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto says his administration will continue to prioritise education as the bedrock of any meaningful development.
“The Sokoto State Government under my watch has taken the issue of education very seriously, as it is one of the top areas of priority in my 9-point smart, transformative agenda,” he asserted.
“Since we came on board, efforts have intensified to ensure that Sokoto State students have access to quality education. As a result, we have continued to ensure prompt tuition fee payment for our students studying within and outside the country.”
He added, “We have equally succeeded in settling the backlog of tuition fees running into Millions of Naira, which the state is owing, which we inherited from the immediate past administration in the State.”
The governor disclosed that under the basic education sub-sector, which is the foundation of learning, 43 blocks of 3 classrooms, offices, stores, and verandas each were constructed across the 23 local government areas of the State.
“We have also renovated 63 no. of blocks of classrooms, constructed parameter wall fence, VIP toilets of compartments, procured and distributed 9,616 no. of HDF iron and wooden desk chairs and table furniture for primary and Junior Secondary schools all in an attempt to guarantee a conducive learning environment for our pupils,” he revealed.
“We have also ensured prompt payment of WAEC, NECO, and NAPTEB examination fees so that our candidates can access their results quickly, and arrangements are also in top gear to settle the backlog of examination fees left behind by the immediate past administration.”
According to him, the government provided JAMB forms free to all Sokoto State Indigenes recently trained on pre-JAMB training to prepare them for the examination.
To ensure student retention in schools, Gov Aliyu said they had restored the school’s feeding programme, which had been stopped by the immediate past administration in the State, and reviewed the feeding fees per pupil to make them comfortable while in school.
While noting that state-owned tertiary institutions had suffered neglect in the last eight years, he assured the people that he would change the narrative by ensuring that problems hindering the smooth running of the institutions are tackled in the overall interest of the students and the State.
“I want to assure the good people of Sokoto State of our unwavering commitment to making education accessible to all the sons and daughters of our dear State. The Education sector was given Lion’s share in our 2024 budget, and Insha Allah, we will ensure the full implementation of the provisions contained in that draft, “Gov Aliyu promised.
“As a responsible government, we will leave no stone unturned in bequeathing a sound education system to the upcoming generations so that our state can catch up with its sister states in Islamic and Western education.”
Speaking at the combined convocation ceremony of Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University Sokoto, he acknowledged the institution’s contributions to educational and manpower development.
He welcomed any partnership in all areas of development, such as renewable energy, security and education.
The governor disclosed the administration’s plans to build a befitting hostel accommodation for the university, his Alma Mata.
