Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has disclosed that his administration is set to enroll about 400, 000 out-of-school children as part of efforts to implement the recommendations of the committee on the revitalisation of the basic and secondary education sector in the state.
The governor made the disclosure on Tuesday during his opening remarks at a retreat organised for members of the State Executive Council.
According to the governor, his administration had begun taking the steps necessary to revitalize the education sector and provide the best possible opportunities for the people to have access to qualitative education in the state.
“We organised and hosted an education summit – the first of its kind in the state, set up an expert technical committee on the revitalization of basic and secondary education and moved to ensure that only qualified teachers stand in front of the classroom to teach our children.
“I am glad to inform you that we have already begun to implement the recommendations of the Interim Report submitted by the Committee.
“As part of this, I have approved for the establishment of a teacher training and curriculum development center. I have also approved for the establishment of three Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, education schools, one in each of our three senatorial districts,” he said.
The governor noted that the currency of today’s economy is knowledge, saying that a society that gets its education right would always get its socio-economic development on the right path.
“I strongly believe that this is an issue that requires urgent attention through the integration of the Tsangaya/Qur’anic school system with the formal education system in the state,” Mr Buni stressed.
Mr Buni vowed to maintain regular and timely payment of salaries, pensions, gratuities and other benefits to the state government workers.
He noted that Yobe is noted as one state where workers have the certainty of a dignified and peaceful retirement because, according to him, they do not have to worry about getting their retirement benefits and other entitlements.
According to him, this administration had continued to fund and support the state healthcare sector, strengthening its capacity to provide quality, affordable care for our people.
“Since taking over the mantle of leadership, we have also moved farther along in completing the construction of our International Cargo Airport.
“This is a project that is certain to open up our state to the world and complement our effort at making Yobe State a hub for the export of agricultural produce. This is an issue to which we place a lot of importance.
“While continuing with these projects that I mentioned, we have also begun to take steps to re-order our socio-economic priorities by placing our state firmly on the road to turning our abundant agricultural and solid mineral resources from potentials to actual prospects,” he said.
Yobe, being generally regarded as an agrarian state, would receive a boost as Governor Buni is set to inject N4.645billion into Agriculture in the state by 2020.
He said: “We brought together key stakeholders – experts, academics, farmers, farmer associations, oversight and regulatory agencies, and the private sector in an agricultural retreat to tap from their experience, knowledge and expertise to help us chart the way forward.
“Today, as a result of the insights that have emerged from those deliberations, we are in a position to begin implementing the most ambitious agricultural renewal and development programme in the history of our state.”
Recall that the governor had resuscitate some of the dormant, non-functioning industries in the state, including the Yobe Flour and Feed Mills, Yobe Woven Sacks Factory and the Yobe Aluminium Company.
Bringing these industries back to production, it was observed, would provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs to people across the state.
“We are mindful of the fact that to fully recover from the devastating effects of the Boko Haram insurgency, we need an all-hands-on deck approach to development where the federal government, development partners and our state government pool resources together to help our people recover and rebuild their livelihoods.
“The State Government had also demonstrated its commitment to empowerment and human capital development through the training that it is are currently providing in paint production to over 500 youths across the state.
“We are demonstrating with that training – that we are not just going to provide the proverbial fish to our youth. More importantly, we are going to teach them how to fish – so that they could have as much fish as they are ready to work for,” the governor explained.
It was reported that the government had begun the construction of Damaturu Ultra-Modern Market at the cost of N2.8 billion and set in motion the construction of a modern Trailer Transit Park in Potiskum in partnership with the Nigerian Shippers Council which is projected to provide up to 5000 jobs for the people.
“We have also commenced the construction of township roads and drainage in Bun-Yadi, Damagum, Babbangida and Jajimaji towns to make commuting in these towns easier for the people and guard against flooding,” he added.
