Gombe's Governor Yahaya Calls for Urgent Action on Educational Disparities in Northern Nigeria

Inuwa Yahaya, the Governor of Gombe State, has urged leaders in northern Nigeria to address the growing issue of children's education, emphasizing the need for increased access to quality basic education for all.

He made this appeal during his speech as the Chairman at the 12th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture on Leadership and Good Governance, which took place in Dutse, Jigawa State. The lecture was centered around the theme: "Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education in Northern Nigeria – A Time for Real Action."

Yahaya remarked that the theme is both timely and aligns with the legacy of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, asserting that education is crucial for unity, development, and prosperity in the North and Nigeria as a whole. He noted that the lecture coincided with the recent commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the coup on January 15, 1966, which led to the deaths of several national leaders, including Sir Ahmadu Bello and Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. According to him, the best tribute to these leaders is through meaningful actions driven by good governance and inclusive development rather than mere lamentation.

The governor expressed his alarm over the current education statistics in the north, highlighting that Nigeria has over 18 million out-of-school children, approximately 70 percent of whom are in the northern region. He added that literacy rates in certain northern states are alarmingly low, remaining below 30 percent, and that girl-child education and basic literacy and numeracy outcomes are significantly lacking.

Yahaya emphasized that addressing educational challenges should be prioritized by northern leaders. He suggested that this could be achieved via ongoing prioritization of education, enhanced collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and partnerships with development agencies to improve access, infrastructure, and teacher capacity. Additionally, he mentioned the establishment of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund as a significant step in combatting insecurity, which he described as the primary obstacle to education in the region.

In his speech, he outlined important reforms initiated by his administration, which include declaring a state of emergency in education, creating a task force aimed at revitalizing basic education, and launching a N13.5 billion School Improvement Grant aimed at improving facilities in 442 secondary schools. He noted that his government has managed to enroll approximately 450,000 out-of-school children between 2019 and 2025, broaden access to higher education through new university campuses, rebuild special needs schools, and cover examination fees and scholarships for secondary school students.

Yahaya stated that the responsibility of reforming education in the North must be a collective effort among all stakeholders, including parents, communities, and traditional and religious leaders, as well as the private sector and civil society groups.

In remarks made by Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, he acknowledged the socioeconomic and security difficulties that Northern Nigeria faces but reiterated the resilience of the region in light of widespread misinformation. He commended Yahaya for his leadership and the creation of the Security Trust Fund, emphasizing that these measures are vital for enhancing security, unity, and sustainable development across the North.

Dr. Babangida Aliyu, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation and former Governor of Niger State, also praised Yahaya for his impactful initiatives to enhance the NSGF Secretariat.