By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
APPARENTLY confident, Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko at the weekend, said he was hopeful that two tertiary institutions, a Federal Polytechnic and Federal College of Education may soon be established in Sokoto state.
The two institutions were proposed for establishment in Silame and Sabon Birni respectively if the Bills scale through.
Senator Wamakko who is also the Chairman , Northern Senators Forum(NSF) spoke through a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Bashir Rabe Mani at the 16th Annual General Meeting of the Sokoto State Education Development Trust Fund ( SEDTF) also said he had completed the construction of a 500-capacity Information, Communications and Technology ( ICT), Centre, in Sokoto.
According to the former governor who represents Sojoto North Senatorial District explained that the centre will be training primary schools’ teachers on ICT, from across the state.
He disclosed that Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar will soon be invited to commission the centre.
The lawmaker also stated that, he is currently sponsoring no fewer than one hundred and twenty five undergraduate ,as well as post graduate students in Pakistan, Cotonou, Uganda,Maradi and Ghana, among others.
Similarly, Wamakko said that, he is sponsoring three hundred students in various tertiary educational institutions within Nigeria.
The Sarkin Yamman Sokoto however, said he had established three primary schools and was also maintaining them.
They are Usmanu BN Fodio International School for Quran and General Studies,Tsamiyar Dila and Ma’ahadut Tahfeez Wad-Dirasatil Quraniyah,Hubbare, in Sokoto North Local Government,as well as, Madarasatul Tahafizil Qur’an Wa Ulumuddinil Islamiyya, Fanari, in Wamakko Local Government.
Wamakko further said he was according a top priority on Science and Technological courses in the award of his scholarships.
While noting that funding education remained a collective responsibility, the APC lawmaker also remarked that it was a thing of joy that the study of history has been reintroduced in the country, as against what obtained before their election into the eighth Senate.
While speaking, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal announced that, over N 600million had so far been collated into the state’s Education Development Levy Fund.
Governor Tambuwal added that, the state government will soon provide N 500milion to the State Education Consultative Committee on Education Development headed by the Sultan.
The governor said that, education is crucial in bolstering socioeconomic development in the nation.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lauded the state government for its renewed commitment in funding education, at all levels.
He also promised that,all funds accruing to the Consultative Committee would be judiciously and transparently utilized.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Fund, Second republic, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, stated that, the various activities of the Committee are aimed at complementing the efforts of the government in funding education.
Represented by the Madawakin Gwandu, Alhaji Idris Koko, Shagari said that, the fund’s activities focus on boosting education and economic empowerment of the people of the state.