Sokoto State University: A dream realised

At inception of the admi-nistration in 2007, Governor Wamakko pledged poverty reduction in the state. “Our focus and policy direction will be anchored on the objectives of poverty reduction, wealth creation and education empowerment.  This policy thrust rests squarely on the core values of fulfilling our people’s demands through the reduction of poverty, illiteracy and […]

At inception of the admi-nistration in 2007, Governor Wamakko pledged poverty reduction in the state. “Our focus and policy direction will be anchored on the objectives of poverty reduction, wealth creation and education empowerment.  This policy thrust rests squarely on the core values of fulfilling our people’s demands through the reduction of poverty, illiteracy and wealth creation as catalyst for sustainable development and empowerment”, he had said.
That pact with the people became a resolve and, with active implementation of programs, targeted the youths for special focus.  The youths are future leaders that hold major stake in overall development of any society in the fast evolving world where information communication technology (ICT) has shrunk the world to a global village in instantaneous awareness of comparative economic indices.
The government pursued youth empowerment through education, skills acquisition, sports and employment generation through provision of critical infrastructure in every nook and corners of the state that encourage establishment of cottage industries.  
In the area of education the administration of invested massively in the sub-sector to reverse his inaugural lamentation “the present socio-economic and political realities are worrisome and requires immediate intervention of all and sundry to check the ugly trend to hopelessness and return the state to the path of recovery, growth and development.”   
It can be recalled that on taking office, Governor Wamakko abolished discrimi-natory school fees in all schools in the state.  He declared education as uncompromising right of the child irrespective of parental background. Children of indigent families enjoy unfettered access to education. The administration mounted a serious campaign for girl-child education.  The previously neglected or dilapidated schools across the state have been renovated; additional classrooms were constructed; new schools were constructed for proximity to children of school age.  Teaching and learning materials and equipment were provided.  Before then teachers used to buy their teaching materials.  Teachers were recruited and motivational packages for greater productivity are being provided.  Through the Department of Higher Education extra mural classes are instituted to encourage students to make up their deficiencies in SSCE or NECO to qualify them for tertiary education.  The administration also pays WAEC and NECO examinations fees for all students.  
 As a result of these measures there is inevitable upsurge in school enrolment which put much pressure on available tertiary institutions in the state.  Shehu Shagari College of Education and the State Polytechnic received government assistance to expand, introduce new courses and accredit them to degree and Higher National Diploma programs respectively.  The two institutions that have students from all over the country are now enviable and can compare favourably with their peers in other parts of the country.  Government also purchased buses that ply the entire city to pick students to and from lectures.  This has reduced accommodation pressure on the institutions as off campus students come to school with ease.  
It is noteworthy that the administration has stimulated enrolment of students into Women’s Centre, Sokoto, where women that missed secondary education, due to early marriage, enrol for complete secondary education.  Thus they have opportunity for tertiary education towards economic and social empowerment.  The administration is now establishing such centres in the three senatorial zones of the state to spread the outreach.  Today, there are women who passed through this scheme who have earned their first and higher degrees and are competing favourably with younger generations in career pursuits.
These justify the establish-ment of a state university, along with other tertiary institutions like College of Agriculture, Wurno, College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Wamakko and School of Development Studies, Sokoto.  The schools are established to tackle the manpower needs of the state and the country.
Wamakko was sharply criticised when he mooted the idea of a university, with sceptics calling it a grandiose and irrelevant project, because of the presence of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.  As the Special Adviser on Higher Education, Professor G. V. Ardo noted at the commissioning of the state university, less than 20% qualified indigenes of Sokoto State that apply every year for admission to Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and other places were successful.  This is so because being a federal institution the quota system eliminates a large chunk of the candidates, making the establishment of the state university imperative.
Moreover, as Governor Wamkko said at the commissioning, the University would be a legacy to the educational culture of the Caliphate that would beam its light to other parts of the country and beyond.
In the same vein, the former Head of State, who commissioned the university, General Abdulsalam Abubakar advised the new institution’s management to open its doors to national and international linkages to foster and sustain its development strides.  
Professor Shehu Gala-danci, the first Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, in his guest lecture cautioned on the disruption of academic activities to our education system and urged stakeholders to sincerely honour obligations in the interest of the system.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State applauded Governor Wamakko for the investment in education as a veritable instrument towards development of human capital which overrides inappropriate road projects.
The former Head of State, Retired General, Muhammadu Buhari remarked that the country’s leadership should strive for employment of our teeming graduates, as one of the means to securing the country.
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in his own goodwill message extolled the virtues of education in overall empowerment of the citizens.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was optimistic that as he is a total home-grown Sokoto man, the university would translate into a national icon too.  
Umar is of Sokoto Liberal Democrats Media Foundation <[email protected]>;