By Ayinde Olaide

The Bauchi State Government has spent N350 million on the renovation of Government Senior Secondary School, Zaki, in Zaki Local Government Area of the state.

Gov. Bala Mohammed disclosed this in Zaki LGA, while inspecting some of the projects embarked upon by the state government in the area.

Mohammed noted that the school had been dilapidated and neglected for over 40 years.

He said his administration also found it necessary to renovate the school in recognition and appreciation of the people of the area for voting for his government.

The governor further revealed that in order to catch up with other counterpart states, his administration was going to build 12 more schools across the state.

“We were here about a year ago, and we saw the dilapidation of this school. It has been abandoned and neglected for forty years.

“Because of this school and in recognition of the support and assistance that the people of Zaki had given us that brought us to power, we decided this place to be an example of how we are going to carry out the educational renewal of Bauchi state.

“We have the highest number of out of school children, we have the highest number of dilapidated schools and we decided to start with Zaki, where we are spending about N350 million.

“We are going to add more because there are areas that have not been procured. Because of that, we have observed that we have twelve more schools that need to be renovated and in addition, in order to catch up with our counterparts as a state, we are building twelve more schools,” the governor said.

Mohammed announced that his administration was borrowing a leaf from the first civilian governor of the state, late Alhaji Abubakar Ali, who had brought so many things to the state, in terms of infrastructure, educational and health services across the state.

“He was the one who built schools in every local government area; he was the one who built all the local government headquarters’ secretariats; he was the one who built all the roads we are enjoying today especially, in Bauchi city.

“We want to do as much as he has done. We will make sure we make the name of Abubakar Tatari Ali a legacy in Nigeria,” Mohammed said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the works carried out in the school included, renovation of hostels, staff quarters, classrooms, as well as the construction of perimeter fences, among others. (NAN)

By Ishaq Zaki

Save the Children International (SCI), an NGO, has called for the immediate release of 300 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara, abducted by gunmen on Friday.

In a statement issued in Gusau on Saturday, SCI’s Country Director, Mrs Mercy Gichuhi, said the NGO was horrified about the “unfortunate and unacceptable kidnap”.

She stressed that schools should never be a place of fear.

“Sadly, this is only the latest in a series of abductions in the northwest region. Over the past months, hundreds of children in Nigeria have gone through the trauma of being abducted by armed groups.

“SCI warns that being kidnapped, witnessing kidnappings, experiencing school attacks, and being forced to flee and take refuge from armed groups are extremely traumatising for young children and adolescents, including girls,” she said.

According to her, the organisation is deeply concerned about the protection of children in places that should be the safest for them.

“Schools are supposed to be safe learning zones for children to play, learn, realise and release their full potential. Instead, they are being turned into places of fear.

“The attacks on schools, students and teachers is very unfortunate, children have the right to have access to quality education in a safe environment,” she added.

Gichuhi said also that the attack and abductions could cause severe psychological trauma to children and put them at risk of never returning to school, as they or their parents think of the dangers involved.

“The children and their parents must be given adequate psycho-social support for a swift return to normal life, and those who are still missing must be found as soon as possible.

“We call upon all parties to refrain from targeting school children and to ensure that the kidnapped girls in Zamfara are immediately released and returned to their families.

“Save the Children urges the Nigerian government to ensure that children have access to safe, quality and uninterrupted education at all levels,” she stressed.

The statement was signed by Malam Murtala Bello, SCI Zamfara State Programme Manager. (NAN)

By Rita Iliya

The abducted students of Government Science College, Kagara in Rafi Loval Government Area of Niger, have regained freedom.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that 42 persons were abducted by suspected bandits on Feb. 17.

NAN reports that the students who arrived Minna amidst tight security were taken to the Niger State Development Company suite to freshen up before being taken to the government house to be received by the governor.

The abductees on arrival were received by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe in Minna.

NAN reports that journalists were barred entering into where the victims were being kept.

On Feb. 17, during the abduction, a school pupil was killed and 27 others were abducted around 3 a.m.

Three members of the school’s staff and 12 of their relatives were also abducted. (NAN)

By Ibukun Emiola

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has donated over 10,000 textbooks tagged: ‘Je Ka kawe’ (let’s read) to pupils in Oyo State to enable them read and write in their mother tongue.

Dr Nureni Adeniran, Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) said this, in a statement, on Friday in Ibadan.

Adeniran said that the book developed by language experts with the support of local professionals from the board, was written in Yoruba Language for Primary 1, 2 and 3.

He said the books were handed over to the board by Nurudeen Lawal, Chief of Party of USAID Northern Education Initiative Plus.

Similar versions of the book tagged: ‘Mu Karanta’ had been launched in the Northern part of Nigeria and in the south eastern Nigeria, where it is called: ‘Ka Anyi Guo’.

Adeniran said Je Ka kawe’ contained stories and pictures that promoted positive social values and would be distributed to pupils in the 2,450 public schools in the state.

Adeniran thanked USAID for the books, saying the gesture would boost Governor Seyi Makinde led administration’s vision of ensuring all children could read and write fluently.

Lawal said the agency’s aim was to ensure children in African nations could read and write unhindered.

According to Lawal, the importance of mother-tongue cannot be overemphasised, hence the mass production of “Je ka kawe”, which will boost the literacy level of children and youths.

He added that the development of ‘Je ka kawe’ was premised on the language provisions in the National Policy on Education, that the mother-tongue of the immediate community should be the medium of instruction at the lower level of education.

The Chief of Party said the initiative was to reach 1.6 million children in lower grades and more than 500,000 out-of-school-children and youths in community learning centres.

He said the programme would also train, equip teachers and facilitators in schools and non-formal learning centres. (NAN)