Sultan of Sokoto makes case for Nigerian children

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has said it was impossible to educate children by throwing them into the streets to scavenge for food.

The Sultan spoke on Sunday in Gummi at the inauguration of the Zamfara State Almajiri Integrated Qur’anic Education Centre.

“I am not a politician, but I’m here because of the importance I attach to the programme.

“Quaranic schools are centres where religious education and values are inculcated in children, but the only source of concern is this begging among the pupils.

“Construction of integrated schools is very critical to needs of society as it will address the out-of-school children syndrome and end begging in the name of learning.

“Every government must put education at the forefront, believing that all good things come from education and all bad things result from ignorance.”

In his remarks, Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara said the government would safeguard the future of younger ones by creating an enabling environment for a brighter future.

“The centre we are inaugurating is a World Bank Intervention Project through the State Universal Education Board (SUBEB). Two more will be constructed in Gusau and Kaura Namoda,” he said.

He said that the centre had six class rooms for 45 students each, while 130 double bed space, 12 toilet facilities and kitchen had been provided.

The centre also has a vocational arena to train children on wood work, sewing and mason work, he added.

He assured the people of government’s commitment toward providing adequate feeding and other critical needs of the pupils.

The governor named the centre after Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar.

The governor later inaugurated two renovated health facilities – Nasarawa General Hospital in Burkullu in Bukkuyum Local Government, and Maru Genera Hospital.