Re: Pilots now teachers in Kano

First, I will commend the Kwankwasiyya administration in Kano, for its tremendous achievements that are worth accolades, in any standard, more so in the Nigerian context.

Between 2011 to May 2015, Kano government focused on education as its priority. In the area of basic education for example, it provided free lunch and two sets of uniforms to all new intakes, across all Primary schools, and constructed Kwankwasiyya classrooms that are standing conspicuously for all to see the patriotic zeal of a government that took its responsibilities seriously. Teachers were trained and retrained, salaries and allowances were promptly paid not later than 25th of every month. These initiatives, among other things mobilized parents to enroll their wards even more, as noticeable from the wide leap in enrollment figures – from 1 million in 2011 to over 3 million in 2014.

Secondary school education also received its fair share of overhaul as over 230 Secondary Schools were established, including 47 technical colleges and 44 schools for Islamic Studies spread across each of the 44 Local Governments. 

Tertiary education was not left out in this general concern, to prioritize education as was the focus of the Kwankwasiyya administration. It established a world class University, the North West University in 2012 in addition to the first State University of Science and Technology Wudil that was established in its first tenure in 2001. Furthermore, 26 capacity building and manpower development Institutes were also established. In addition, it sponsored Kano State indigenes to study in other Nigerian private Universities. Alongside these, there was another programme, that of sponsoring students to state and federal Universities. All these were done for a reason.  The basic being to empower the youth and mop them off the streets so that they could be useful to themselves as well as the society in the future.

Moreover, for me and other progressives, a master stroke of the 

Kwankwaso administration had been its sponsorship of over 2,600 Kano State indigenes to pursue various fields of specialization in various Universities spread across 14 countries of the world. This was done to develop the capacities of these indigenes of Kano, and expose them to opportunities that are abound around the world and also prepare them to face whatever challenges they may face, in a technologically advanced world.

For a Government to go this far, bringing up innovations and original capacity building programmes, it must have come from somewhere. For me, it came from a genuine concern to make Kano and its indigenes better, utilizing its resources in the best possible way. Thus, I find it absurd that someone would think the 100 pilots’ project was ill-conceived or poorly thought out.

This issue of Kano State Pilots was initiated with the best of intentions and a lot had been considered before it came to fruition. The rationale behind the foreign scholarship scheme is not for each and every one of the beneficiaries to come back to Kano or even Nigeria to gain employment. Rather, the idea was to give them the exposure that comes with being in a foreign country as well as giving them the opportunity to access world class educational prospects, to build their capacities and broaden their contacts. The plan was a long time measure, so that in the not too distant future, Kano would have specialists in every sector and hopefully, Nigeria’s manpower would be sought from the ancient and most populous state. Therefore, the opinion of signing a bond with the beneficiaries of the Kwankwasiyya Pilot Scheme does not arise, as the aim was not to have the beneficiaries back in Kano to practice as Pilots. Their training and that of others in similar schemes was to empower Kano State indigenes to become employable internationally, to be sought after, from every nation of the world. It is interesting to also note that quite a good number of these beneficiaries have already taken employment abroad; some have been given foreign scholarships to pursue PhDs. 

It is also remarkable that Senator Kwankwaso still gives his attention to details that are central to the development of Kano, as is evident in his chairmanship of the Senate adhoc committee on Aviation where he discovered that there is a dearth of trained and experienced man power in the aviation industry ranging from pilots to ground operations personnel, due to aging.

It is on record that during this assignment, the Distinguished Senator made a strong case, not only for the 100 Kano pilots, but also for all young pilots and other operational personnel by recommending for a review of the required flying hours for new pilots alongside other stringent regulations that makes it difficult for young aviation personnel to practice.

Consequently, as it is widely acclaimed that the present Government of Kano State is an off-shoot of the 2011-2015 Kwankwasiyya administration that got elected on the mantra of continuity, it is expected that such laudable initiatives of developing the youth be sustained and funded adequately so as not to end up wasting the huge investments made by its predecessor.  The excuse of paucity of funds to continue with these valiant programmes is not convincing as out of the 34 Executive Council meetings, the State government has had, records shows that it approved over N14.9 Billion for roads expansion, rehabilitation of drainages and renovation of offices. Certainly, these projects can’t be more important than the completion of training of our younger generation. I therefore urge the present administration to set its priorities straight by embarking on projects and programmes that will have direct bearing on the citizenry.

 

Binta Rabiu Spikin is the Media Assistant to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Kano Central Senatorial District.