Emir of Gombe commends Gov Yahaya over BESDA initiative

By Ese Awhotu

The Emir of Gombe, Alhaji (Dr.) Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III has commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for keying into the Federal Government/ World Bank programme, Better Education Service Delivery for All, BESDA, calling on scholars and parents to cooperate in sustaining the project.
The Emir was speaking when he hosted government officials and the league of Ulamas and Tsangaya teachers( scholars) during a sensitisation/ advocacy programme at his palace in Gombe.
While underscoring the importance of education in societal development, Dr. Abubakar III said even before the introduction of BESDA programme in Gombe state he had established a foundation, through which he sponsors thousands of pupils for free education with hundreds of almajiris also benefiting from the gesture in his personal effort to reduce out- of- school children.
The Emir, who is also the Chairman of Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, assured that the traditional institution will continue to support all efforts at improving literacy and enhancing education.
In his remarks at the occasion, the state Commissioner of Education, Dr. Habu Dahiru said over 70, 000 tsangaya learners are currently benefitting from the intervention programme of the Better Education Service Delivery for All, BESDA in Gombe State.
He said the programme now has 791 learning centres with 75,491 learners, out of which 61,637 are male while 13,854 are female.
Gombe state Coordinator of BESDA, Dr Abdullahi Bappah Garkuwa thanked the Emir for his unflinching support to the programme and the drive by the state government to mop up out- of- school children and improve literacy level in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi and other top government functionaries witnessed the event which was attended by over 200 Tsangaya teachers and state council of qur’anic memorisers, known as Alarammas from the eleven local government areas of the state.