The Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations and senator representing Kano North, Barau Jibrin has expressed delight that establishment of Federal University of Education (Technical), Bichi and Federal University of Agriculture, Danbatta both in Kano state will address the dual problem of out of school children and shortage of teachers in our schools.
Barau stated this Thursday at the public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund on the Federal University of Agriculture, Danbatta, Kano state (Establishment bill), Federal University of Education (Technical), Bichi Kano state (Establishment bill) and Federal College of Agriculture, Ubiaja, Edo state (Establishment bill).
Senator Barau who sponsored the bills for establishment of the two universities in Kano state said Federal College of Education Technical Bichi, which is being upgraded to university “is very famous in chunning out teachers who are teaching in the secondary schools, but there is lack of teachers needed in our universities.
“We have many private universities being established every year. So, there is that need to have a university in our area. You know we are lagging behind in terms of education. We need a university that will train teachers that will teach in these universities. That is very important.
He said Kano is not only the centre of commerce in northern part of Nigeria, but also centre of agriculture as they have the largest farm produce market in the whole of West Africa situated in Kano.
“Since we are known for agriculture, we need a university that will train farmers (agriculturists). We are not asking for too much because the establishment of these universities is for the benefit of the entire nation.
Talking about funding, the Kano North senator was optimistic that their hard work has resulted in “non-oil revenues growing every year”.
“Now we are talking of an institution that will help develop agriculture, which is the main stay of our economy, which will increase our agricultural produce and translate into a better living standard.
On the disturbing issue of out of school children, which is mainly a northern problem, Barau said the establishment of the institutions is the best way to fight the menace.
“We are talking about training teachers. If you don’t have this kind of institution you won’t go anywhere . We are trying to fight this out of school children, which can be done by having the school and have the teachers. Teacher is the most important element to have children trained to be better citizens of the country.
Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim, Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, who represented the Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje, gave the assurance of Kano State Government to the Senate Committee that they provide all that is needed for the establishment of the two universities.
He expressed the gratitude of the government and people of Kano to Senator Barau Jibrin who sponsored the two bills for FUOA, Danbatta and FUE (Technical) Bichi.
The Speaker disclosed that primary and secondary schools have been made compulsory in Kano state through a law passed two years ago by the Kano State House of Assembly making it “compulsory and necessary for every child to be enrolled in school”.
Prof. Mohammed Waidale, from Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Danbatta which is being upgraded to Federal University of Agriculture Danbatta and Dr. Andrew Ojienhekele from Ambrose Alli University, Edo state both spoke in favour of the bills.
According to Dr. Andrew, there is no single College of Agriculture in the whole Edo state and the current effort is “very commendable”.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Ahmed Babba Kaita was elated when there no single objection to any of the three bills, but said the committee was open to all views.
