UNICEF/EAC, Kebbi govt. woo monarchs support for educate-a child campaign

From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi

The EAC/UNICEF in collaboration with the Kebbi State SUBEB has organized the State Consultative Forum with Emirs/Traditional Leaders on Enrolment Drive and Educate A Child – EAC Campaign in Kebbi State.
The Enrolment Drive and EAC Campaign 2018 took place yesterday at the Presidential Lodge Birnin Kebbi with the aim of providing a platform for the chairman of traditional council in the state to mobilize fellow traditional leaders at state, local government and village level to buy in and support Enrolment Drive Campaign in the state.
Delivering his speech, the State Project Coordinator, EAC/UNICEF Kebbi State, Issa Usman said that the project is located in Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara states, but Kebbi state is enjoying the lion share of the intervention and for that to whom much is given much is expected.
Also in his remark, the State Chairman of 2018 Enrolment Drive campaign, Kebbi State, Wazirin Gwandu, Alh Abdullahi Umar, said as soon as he was appointed to chair the committee, he insisted that the executive governor must be engaged, thus him and the Hon. Commissioner of Education have seen the governor. This is because of his conviction that carrying out Enrolment Drive Campaign without the government playing its own part of the coin would end up as mere ceremonies.
Responding, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samila Mohammed Mera said that it was a well thought and smart idea for asking traditional institutions to take ownership of Enrolment Drive Campaign.
Also in his remark, the Emir of Yauri, Dr. Zayannu Abdulahi said his emirate is ever ready to support any process that would bring about development in the educational sector.
However, government must fulfill its own part of obligations by providing enabling learning environment, with adequate qualified teachers and learning materials etc.
Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sami said it was a serious concern that at this age and this part of the country people are still being begged to enroll their children into school. While in other parts people rush to ensure that their children acquire education.
The NUT Chairman Kebbi State, expressed his disappointment that despite the large amount of money EAC/UNICEF has sunk into the state, the enrolment is still not encouraging.
The Emir of Gwandu Alh Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar made a passionately appeal to other emirs to do all they could to ensure the success of the campaign.
The State’s Commissioner of Education, Mohammad Magawatta Aliero said he was glad that the right decision has been taken by tasking the traditional institutions to take ownership and move enrolment drive campaign in their domain and believes success would be achieved at the end.
In his address, the Executive Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board expressed his excitement with the attendance by the traditional fathers and as such was short of words on how to welcome them and other participants.