A paramount ruler in Nigeria’s North East, Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi has urged stakeholders to join hands to revive western education sector in the state.
The Shehu’s appeal followed a courtesy call at his palace by a team from anticorruption crusader, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) with the host partner radio station, Peace FM 105.1, on the sidelines of a Town Hall Meeting in the state capital, Maiduguri.
He expressed joy over the visit by WAMAC team and urged them to continue with the good work they do, which dwelled on anti-corruption and promotion of accountability.
“No segregation in my palace, so I love corruption fighters” Shehu of Borno said.
According to the royal majesty, although Borno State is left far behind in terms of western education due to 15 years of insurgency, he is confident of positive change with joint effort towards promoting inclusive education in the post-insurgency period.
WAMAC’s Borno Town Hall
The Town Hall Meeting in July at the state capital, Maiduguri sparked new inclusivity and accountability initiatives in Borno state education.
It highlighted the urgent need for an inclusive educational environment, emphasizing that all citizens, regardless of gender, culture, or religion, must have access to education.
The event, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, forms part of the organisation’s effort on anticorruption, themed “Inclusivity and Accountability in Borno State Public Education Sector in the Post-Insurgency Recovery Effort.”
Executive Director of WAMAC, Zubair Abdurra’uf Idris is positive that the situation calls for education to be prioritized and inclusivity seen as essential for the state’s development, especially as it recovers from the devastation caused by insurgency.
“We must acknowledge that the conflict has disproportionately affected vulnerable groups, including girls, children with disabilities, and those from marginalized communities mostly displaced by the Boko Haram Insurgency.
Therefore, our focus on inclusivity and accountability in education is not only a moral imperative but a necessary step towards rebuilding a more equitable and just society. By ensuring that every child has access to quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances, we can unlock their potential and empower them to become active contributors to our state’s growth and development.” Idris said.
Borno State Rallies for Inclusive and Accountable Education
The push to combat corruption and promote inclusivity in Borno State’s public education sector have become essential for the state’s development, especially as it recovers from the devastation caused by insurgency.
A diverse group of stakeholders from the north-east Nigerian state, including media representatives, civil society organizations, people with disabilities, traditional rulers, community and faith-based organizations, and key government agencies raised this point at the town hall.
Guest Speaker, Prof. Abdulkarim Ishaq says it is important to pay attention not just to student intake in schools, but also to attendance of students to ensure they remain in school until the time of their graduation
Prof. Ishaq from Department of Education, University of Maiduguri also explained that involvement of all parties is needed to make things work better.
“We should be able to advocate for policy reform that institutionalize inclusivity.”
“If you are not part of it, there’s nothing you can do, there’s nothing you can say that these people should and ought to account for it, but if you say you are a stakeholder, you are part of it, then, definitely, you can draw their attention to be accountable.” He said.
Communiqué
The meeting recognized Borno State government’s efforts in mitigating infrastructure shortfalls due to insurgency and advocated for continued investment in education, teacher training, and a curriculum that provides equitable access for all societal strata.
Gender, culture and religion inclusivity was part of an eleven-point communique by the diverse group of stakeholders at the town hall. Also included was the necessity for education of girls and people with special needs through scholarships and university enrollments, highlighting their critical role in the economic and political development of society.
The Town Hall advocated for effective communication between the media, civil society and security agencies and traditional rulers to promote peaceful co-existence that will enhance security and intelligent sharing in schools environment through the Safer School Programme.
Traditional and religious leaders were urged to spearhead efforts in revitalizing family values to address corruption.
Accountability was another focal point, with participants calling for stringent monitoring of budget allocations and expenditures to ensure transparency and curtail corruption. The active involvement of the community, civil society, youth groups, women, professional unions and other stakeholders in the oversight of educational services was deemed crucial to achieving these goals.
WAMAC’s train on anti-corruption has been going round Nigeria’s six geo-political zones – Niger, Akwa-Ibom, Kwara, Kano, Ebonyi, and Ondo States earlier in the year, with focus on different anti-corruption themes. The end of first half of the year was in Ondo State, where the Town Hall discussed – “holding the government accountable on abandoned projects: a civic responsibility”. The train on anti-corruption moves from Borno to Adamawa – another North East state of Nigeria.