Katsina Deputy Governor Lawal represents Governor Radda at Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture in Jigawa

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The Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe, represented Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda at the 12th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture on Leadership and Good Governance held in Dutse, Jigawa State.

The lecture, with the theme “Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education in Northern Nigeria – A Time for Real Action,” brought together governors, senior government officials, traditional rulers, scholars and development partners to discuss the future of education in the North.

Speaking as Chairman of the occasion, the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, called for urgent and collective action to tackle the problems of out-of-school children, low literacy levels and poor learning outcomes, especially in Northern Nigeria.

Governor Yahaya revealed that Nigeria has over 18 million out-of-school children, with about 70 per cent from the North, warning that the future of the region is at risk if decisive steps are not taken.

He stressed that education must remain a top priority for leaders in the region.

He also highlighted efforts by Northern governors, in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), development partners and donor agencies, to expand access to education, improve school infrastructure, strengthen teacher capacity and promote girl-child education.

The NSGF Chairman further noted that insecurity remains one of the major threats to education in the North and pointed to the establishment of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund to provide sustainable support for the protection of schools and learning environments.

The lecture also featured discussions on initiatives such as the Nigeria Education Forum 2025 and state-level foundational learning programmes aimed at improving early-grade literacy and numeracy and returning millions of children to school.

Similarly, the participants paid tribute to the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, whose legacy of unity, good governance and educational development continues to inspire leaders across Northern Nigeria.

The event attracted the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation and former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, among others.