Inside Sokoto’s ‘forgotten’ community

In the last decade, the only school in the village has been in a shambolic state and the community has no source of clean water supply so the people have to trek several Kilometres to get potable water. Similarly, there is no health facility in the area and the villagers have to go to the […]

In the last decade, the only school in the village has been in a shambolic state and the community has no source of clean water supply so the people have to trek several Kilometres to get potable water. Similarly, there is no health facility in the area and the villagers have to go to the council headquarters for medical services.
The school is said to have been destroyed by a wind storm in 2005 when the roof of the three classrooms were blown off even as they have no doors and windows. This, Weekly Trust learnt, has adversely affected the enrolment and retention of pupils for several years.
The school with over 100 pupils, a headmaster and two teachers, is also in dire need of furniture, books and toilets. Yet year after year, the school has continued to serve pupils under these arduous conditions.
The school’s head boy, Sani Yakubu, said he met the institution in that deplorable state, lamenting that it was depressing to learn under conditions that expose the pupils to the elements.
“If it is raining we have to stop classes immediately and go home and
if it becomes too sunny, we also abandon studies,” said the primary six pupil.
Sani, who says his ambition, is to become a soldier so as to defend the
country, appealed to the relevant authorities to rescue the school from its present rot.
Another primary six pupil Abdurrahman Salisu, noted that many have
passed through the school under this condition, noting that its dilapidated condition was dispiriting. He said he was encouraged not to quit learning by his desire to become a medical doctor so that he can assist his community.
“Please, we need befitting structures, new books and furniture,” he passionately appealed.
Alhaji Garba Abdullahi, who was posted to the school as headmaster in 2007, also reflected on its condition, saying the management had made several complaints to the authorities concerned to repair the school to no avail.
“The state of the school is really a source concern for us. It needs
urgent rehabilitation, we appeal to government to come to the aid of the school,” Abdullahi stated.
The village head, Magaji Daudu, who spoke through a member the community, Haliru Abdullahi, said the school’s condition has discouraged some villagers from enrolling their children there.
“Even the children shy away from going to the school knowing its state,” he stressed, adding however that it was not just the dilapidated state of the school that was a problem as the community was also confronted with the challenge of potable water supply.
“If you want to get adequate water you have to go in search of it at
night. Sometime 10 pm, 11 pm up to 2 pm,” one of the villagers, Muhammad Ismaila revealed.
The villagers said the water situation was also affecting the education of the children as they have to look for water for family use.
Weekly Trust gathered throughout the period of campaign for the 2015 general elections, no political party went to the
village to solicit votes.
“If the politicians had come, we would have told them our plights and the urgent need to address them,” Daudu stated.
Chairman of Sokoto State Primary Education Board, Prof. Musa Maitafsir, said he was not aware of the school’s problem but however, pledged to take necessary steps to rehabilitate it.
The local government chairman was not available for comment on issues affecting the village, when Weekly Trust visited the council headquarters.