DETERIORATION OF EDUCATION IN THE NORTH: NORTHERN GOVERNORS SHOULD EMULATE KWANKWASO AND YUGUDA.

Education is unanimously agreed to be one of the indicators of Development. In Nigeria, however,Education has suffered a drastic setback, especially in the Northern part of the country, in which most of the people can't afford to pay for their children's school fees at both secondary and tertiary levels, and that led to the high number of illiterates in the Northern part of Nigeria compared to the Southern part. Those that are even lucky to attend by one means or the other never get the required training at their various institutions due to the lack of modern facilities at our tertiary institutions simply because the government is doing little (or nothing) to address the problem facing the educational sector. With the exception of few states in the North where their Governors are doing marvelously to improve the standard of education in their state, most of the Northern governors never give a damn whether their indigenes go to school or not, because to them, its not necessary for the less privilege ones to go to school. Lack of sponsorship is one of the major factors that contributes immensely to the high number of illiterates in the Northern part of the Country. There are quite number of intelligent people who can't further their studies at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels due to financial difficulties. Such people a times ended up without realizing their dreams simply because they don't have anyone at the corridor of power to sponsor them. I am not a member of PDP and I don't think if I will be for the rest of my life, but the truth must be told- Bauchi and Kano state Governors must be commended for given more priority to educational sector. Therefore, we must all keep our political differences and commend their wonderful initiatives and also call on the other Northern Governors to emulate them.

Bauchi State under the leadership of Mallam Isah Yuguda (Matawallen Bauchi) have sponsored a quite number of students to United State, Egypt and so on to study Aviation related courses, Medicine, Engineering, etc. Some of these students sent for Aviation related courses have successfully finished their studies and are currently serving at various aviation fields like Airports, College of Aviation Zaria, etc. while some among them have started their masters already. Therefore, credit must be given to Matawallen Bauchi for sending his people to study such noble profession in which we have limited number of northerners there. Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has since his return to offfice (last year) committed himself to restructuring the standard of education in his state, where he offered free buses to convey students to their respective schools, free feeding, and lots more. Recently, the Governor , according to his Director of Press and Public Relations, Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, said that Kano state government will spend about 12 million US Dollars to sponsor 500 indigenes with First Class and Second class Upper degrees to pursue postgraduate studies abroad. Here is the full text from his Director of press "Kano state government is to spend about 12 million US Dollars to sponsor 500 its indigenes with First Class and Second class Upper degrees to pursue postgraduate studies abroad, the state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has revealed. Speaking during an interactive session with Kano state PDP stake holders at the Government House, Governor Kwankwaso stated that admission into various tertiary institutions in several countries has been secured for the students, adding that most of them will depart Nigeria by next Saturday. He also stated that his administration is fine-tuning plans to sponsor about 500 qualified secondary school leavers from the state to study medicine overseas, pointing out that the move was informed by the dearth of medical professionals, particularly medical doctors in public hospitals in Kano. Governor Kwankwaso told the gathering that the government is working with Nigerien authorities toward building a boarding secondary school in Niger Republic for Kano students to enable them learn French, while the Chinese Embassy in Abuja has been contacted for support toward setting up a Chinese language school in Kano before the end of this year. These and other efforts, he said, are with a view to ensuring that Kano becomes an active player in the global village. The governor, who hinted that the state government is not relenting in its bid to provide education to the common man in the state, asserted that plans have been concluded to set up crafts and technical schools in all the 44 local government areas of the state. He explained that approval has already been given for the installation of facilities in some places, where structures exist in 16 local government areas for immediate take-off of the technical schools. Governor Kwankwaso also announced that each of the 44 local governments Community Re-orientation Committees has been given N5million for the renovation of schools in their respective domains while efforts are being sustained to provide teaching and learning facilities. He disclosed that arrangements have been concluded to construct public conveniences in all the 44 local government areas of the state to enhance public hygiene and environmental sanitation, while a selected number of youths will be trained in motorized borehole repairs and maintenance, as part of attempt to reduce unemployment in the society." Sincerely, the Northern Governors have indeed failed obviously in terms of education, but if we would have more of Kwankwaso and Yuguda who are willing to live up to their responsibilities and provide most of the necessary things to their people, then standard of education in the northern part would improve, otherwise, it will remain as its. Remember, every child has a right to education. The earlier the Governors rise up to the challenges, the better for them. I repeat, every child has a right to education, and providing education to every member of a certain community will of course minimize the number of criminals and thugs among the youth.