ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, ARC MOHAMMED NAMADI SAMBO, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE AT THE HANDING OVER CEREMONY OF CLASSROOMS CONSTRUCTED BY THE JAPANESE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY (JICA) HELD ON THURSDAY, 27^TH MARCH 2008 AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT EDUCATION AUTHORITY PRIMARY SCHOOL, GADAN-GAYAN.

With profound gratitude to the Almighty Allah, I feel highly delighted to be in your midst this day to witness this very important and memorable occasion of the handing over of classrooms constructed by the Government of Japan, through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

As we are aware, since the inception of democratic governance in 1999, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government has specifically been very concerned with the Education Sector. This is in realization of the basic fact that education is the bedrock of development in any society or nation. Therefore, the need to expand access to quality education in our dear nation becomes imperative.

For this reason, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme was launched in 1999 by the Federal Government. This programme, which is meant to be free and compulsory, is intended to boost access to quality basic education for all children of school age in Nigeria.

We are not unmindful of the fact that our schools have not been performing optimally. Problems related to low enrollment, inadequacy of qualified staff, gross deficit in facilities and allied resource, low teachers morale and limited community participation. These and many more are the problems militating against the development of education in the State.

However, our aspiration as a nation must fundamentally hinge on how we prepare today’s young Nigerians for future roles in all sectors of the economy. To this end, I call on parents to enroll their children of school age in schools. May I also call on teachers that we expect total dedication, patriotism, determination and commitment to the successful implementation of our education and policies. Let me assure our teachers that their welfare is uppermost in our programme.

Similarly, the mass media have been playing a great role in sensitizing, enlightening and mobilizing members of the public to embrace education as one of the basic and fundamental means for the development of humanity. We urge them to continue to do more, for our collective benefit.

Qualitative education for all and sundry is our important cardinal concern. We are also aware that such quality that we have in mind requires the active contribution of both the government and the governed. As part of our eleven-point agenda and right from inception, we had as our priority the commitment to provide free and compulsory primary education in the State. Therefore, I once again call on parents to take advantage of our education policy which has been carefully formulated to actualize our mission of preparing our youth for nation building.

We have also pledged to make human development the overall philosophy upon which our policies, programmes and actions will be rested. As we face the scientific and technological challenges of globalization, our only hope as a nation is Education. Therefore, it is my hope and desire that the good people of Kaduna State and indeed the country at large will wholeheartedly embrace the UBE’s programmes which is a sure route to ensuring education for all.

The important intervention provided by JICA is quite timely. It will go a long way in complementing government efforts in improving the quality of basic education in this country. The Nigerian government, and in particular, the government and people of Kaduna State, wish to acknowledge the immense support by the Japanese Government through JICA for the construction of classrooms in various primary schools across the State. permit me also to appreciate and acknowledge the continuing support of JICA programmes in the area of capacity building for teachers and other administrative staff in In-service Training and Education (IN-SET) both within the country and overseas aimed at Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) in our schools.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to stress at this juncture that our administration will continue to accord priority attention at all levels of Education notwithstanding our pronouncement on the basic education in the State. Therefore, government will remain committed in supporting all programmes and innovations initiated by either governments or Non-Governmental Organizations aimed at improving the quality of life of our people particularly the less privileged communities. Similarly, the State will continue to explore and utilize external financial, infrastructural and technical assistance to complement its development efforts.

Let me therefore assure you all that our government remains committed to providing the enabling environment for quality basic education delivery in the State. In this direction, we are determined to ensure the full implementation of the UBE programme by providing free and compulsory quality basic education. In addition, we shall embark on the continuous training and re-training of teachers to enhance their professional competence while on the job. In the same vein, the recruitment of additional qualified teachers and their welfare by way of reviewing upward their salaries as well as provision of housing schemes for them has been considered and approved.

It is pertinent at this juncture to let the good people of our dear State appreciate our unwavering commitment through the allocation of 27% of our entire budget to education. Education, unlike infrastructure, is an intangible asset and only its result or outcome will justify the huge investment in that sector. We are therefore thanking donor Non-Government Organizations for their concern and their resolve to partner with the State in discharging their social responsibility to a community of their choice for the growth and development of that community and the progress of the nation.

Our decision to make such an investment in that sector is drawn principally from the fact that it is the sector that has ensured our phenomenal rise to our respective positions and the fear of its attendant decay which might alternatively lead to its collapse. Therefore, it is incumbent on us as its beneficiaries to ensure that the tempo in producing quality educated people is maintained.

Allow me to call on the patriotic groups, individuals and communities in Kaduna State to put all hands on deck towards ensuring that all facilities provided for them by government and other donor agencies are adequately safeguarded and properly put to use for the benefit of mankind. I also want to specifically charge the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to ensure that all educational facilities provided are maximally utilized and to also sensitize the beneficiary communities to safeguard all facilities in the schools.

It is my singular honour and privilege on behalf of the government and people of Kaduna State to take over the classrooms and other facilities provided by JICA in the various schools with profound gratitude and appreciation to the people and government of Japan and the glory of Almighty Allah.

Thank you and God bless.

Governor Arch Mohammed Namadi Sambo is a true democrat, whose approach to problems is always humane and conciliatory he is a man of peace who patiently looked to the future with courage and hope. His commitment in the direction of transforming the state into a relatively better integrated and functional polity is continuing  with a mission  to create a stable  and cohesive polity capable of securing effectively the interests of the various communities and giving them the opportunity to develop and live in peace  with one another.