Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has urged leaders in northern Nigeria to prioritise education to address challenges associated with the Almajiri system and improve the region’s human and economic development.
Mr Mutfwang made the call on Saturday in Demsa, Adamawa State, while speaking at the 70th birthday celebration of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
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The governor, who chaired the event, said the challenges associated with the system could not be effectively addressed without a deliberate commitment by Northern leaders to expanding access to education.
“To address the Almajiri system, it must take the commitment of Northern leaders to promote education and tackle the Almajiri problem, which is against economic and human development,” he said.
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He described education as a key instrument for promoting peace, development and economic prosperity, saying communities would struggle to achieve sustainable development without investing in human capital.
Mr Mutfwang also highlighted the contribution of religious institutions to education and community development, recalling the role of the church in Nigeria’s development.
“Late Tafawa Balewa established a church because he knew that the church propagated education, and through education, society thrives, peace and economic development take place in communities,” he said.
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The governor commended Mr Mustapha for funding the construction of a library and administrative blocks at the Lutheran University of Nigeria, Demsa, describing the project as an investment in knowledge and human development.
He noted that the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) was the third member of the TEKAN bloc to establish a university, after NKST and the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN).
“This is a confirmation that the church believes in knowledge for development and peace in society,” Mr Mutfwang said.
Also speaking, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri commended Mr Mustapha for using his personal resources to support education and human capital development in the state.
Mr Fintiri said Mr Mustapha could have invested the money in personal projects but instead chose to support an institution that would benefit students and the wider society.
“Boss Mustapha would have used this money to build housing estates for himself, but for his love for humanity, he used the resources to build library and administrative blocks for the promotion of education in the country,” he said.
Mr Fintiri urged other successful indigenes of Adamawa to emulate the former SGF by investing in education and other initiatives that promote human development.
ALSO READ: Jigawa’s Almajiri children can no longer be classified out-of-school – Governor Namadi
He said his administration had prioritised education as part of its efforts to address poverty and insecurity in the state.
“Poverty and insecurity can best be defeated with the weapon of education and not bullets,” the governor said.
In his remarks, Mr Mustapha said his decision to construct the facilities was motivated by his desire to contribute to the development of education in Nigeria.
He described education as essential to promoting peace, unity and national development and urged Nigerians who had been blessed with resources to give back to society.
Mr Mustapha, who commissioned the facilities as part of activities marking his 70th birthday, expressed gratitude to God for allowing him to attain the milestone.
“Today (Saturday) I clock 70 years. It is not my making, but by the grace of my Creator, God, so I must thank my Creator for His mercy on me,” he said.
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