From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
The Minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is genuine and real, not just political gimmick.
She stated this in Kano at the opening ceremony of the 7th Annual Education for Sustainable Development, ESD, Conference on Friday, organized by Centre for Gender Studies (CGS), Bayero University, Kano, BUK.
Dr Ahmad said the CGS’s ESD “had amplifies the Tinubu government’s commitment to this vision.”
She noted that by integrating sustainability into educational curricula, “we are preparing our students to tackle the pressing challenges of our time, including climate change, poverty, and inequality among others.
“As the Minister of state for Education, I am committed to supporting the ESD Program and ensuring that our educational institutions are not just centers of learning but also hubs of innovation and change. This means investing in infrastructure, providing quality teaching materials, and fostering an environment where students can thrive.
“The renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu is genuine and not just a political gimmick. I assure you this,” she assured.
Dr Ahmad reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalize the education sector as part of efforts to transform the country for greatness, emphasizing the crucial role education plays in national growth and development.
She explained that the federal government’s commitment to revitalizing tertiary institutions aimed at not only to serve as centers of learning but as well as hubs of innovation and change. “Education goes beyond acquiring knowledge; it is about shaping minds to create a sustainable future.
”Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas in a remarks, commended the centre for organising the conference describing it as timely and apt.
He said university has established the centre as part of the deliberate effort to promote societal growth and development and thank them for keeping to the mission and vision. Professor Abbas said the Management is always ready to support the activities of the Centre
Also peaking, the Director of the Centre for Gender Studies, Ambassador Dr Safiya Nuhu Ahmed revealed that since 2017, BUK has been organizing the ESD program in collaboration with various stakeholders and partners.
While enumerating the impact of the ESD program, she said about 300 students have been empowered from more than 20 tertiary institutions.
Dr Safiyya-Ahmed said the program’s vision is to equip students with knowledge and skills around the SDGs, to advance the actualization of sustainable development.
“ESD Ambassadors thus become the bridges through which sustainable development prospects could be achieved. Commendably, BUK has been the pioneer University in Nigeria to train students annually on ‘ESD’, and to institute a mentorship program for the ambassadors’ progressive growth.
“The project essentially targets reducing inequalities between sexes, and age groups by giving skills that equip youth to feel powerful and confident to execute projects that alleviate poverty, enhance food security and lead to sustained growth and development.” she declared.
