Weak Community Support, Poor Funding Hindering Education in Northern Nigeria – Prof. Rufa’
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
The former Minister of Education, Professor Rukayya Ahmed Rufa’i, has attributed the slow pace of educational development in Northern Nigeria to weak community participation, poor funding, shortage of qualified teachers and low school enrolment across the region.
Professor Rufa’i made this assertion while presenting a paper at the 12th Annual Lecture of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna Memorial Foundation, titled “Delivering Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education in Northern Nigeria: A Time for Real Action,” held in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.
She cited reports indicating that Nigeria has over 18 million out-of-school children, with Northern Nigeria accounting for more than 70 per cent of the figure.
According to her, limited access to quality education exposes many children to radicalisation, social exclusion, economic unproductivity, high maternal mortality, hunger and involvement in criminal activities.
Professor Rufa’i identified poor funding, unfriendly school environments, shortage of qualified teachers, limited community participation and lack of cultural alignment in school curricula as major factors undermining educational growth in the region.
She stressed that under such conditions, achieving meaningful development would remain difficult, calling for practical and purposeful reforms anchored on adequate funding, provision of qualified teachers, safe learning environments and stronger community engagement.
In his part the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the foundation and former Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Babangida Muazu, expressed concern over the region’s failure to sustain the legacy of Sir Ahmadu Bello, which he said was built on equitable access to quality education, unity and social cohesion.
Muazu urged stakeholders to learn from history and contribute collectively towards addressing the region’s social, economic and security challenges.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, commended the Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna Foundation for its commitment to promoting education and good governance.
Governor Yahaya pledged that the Northern Governors’ Forum would champion the implementation of a unified educational reform framework, rather than a fragmented approach, to reposition the region and preserve the ideals of Sir Ahmadu Bello.
While the host governor and Executive Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar Namadi, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to advance educational reforms and strengthen good governance across Northern Nigeria.
