By Raphael Ekpang
Senator Jibrin Barau has said that the establishment of Federal University of Education (Technical) in Bichi, Kano state will tackle the menace of out of school children in the region.
In addition, Senator Barau opined that the establishment of Federal University of Agriculture, Danbatta will also solve the problem of shortage of teachers.
Barau, who is representing Kano North at the Senate made this known at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund on the Federal University of Agriculture, Danbatta, Kano state (Establishment bil), Federal University of Education (Technical), Bichi Kano state (Establishment bill) and Federal College of Agriculture, Ubiaja, Edo state (Establishment bill) on Thursday.
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”.
The Senate committee chairman on appropriations said Kano is not only the centre of commerce in northern part of Nigeria, but also centre of agriculture, saying 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.
Commenting on funding, Senator Barau expressed optimism 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.
“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”.
In a separate remarks Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim, Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, assured the gathering that the Kano State Government will provide all that is needed for the establishment of the two universities.
He applauded Senator Barau Jibrin who sponsored the two bills for the establishment of the Varsities.
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”.
Meanwhile, Prof. Mohammed Waidale, of Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Danbatta which is being upgraded to Federal University of Agriculture Danbatta and Dr. Andrew Ojienhekele of Ambrose Alli University, Edo state both supported the bills.
