The only local government area in Nigeria without a secondary school has
just secured one, thanks to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto
State.
Gudu LGA in Sokoto State has suffered the misfortune of having some of the
worst statistics in education in the world. Apart from having the ignominy
of not having a senior secondary school to cater for its estimated 120,000
residents, a 2013 survey showed that out of 1890 students in Junior
Secondary Schools in the LGA, only one of them is a female.
All that is about to change however, because at the weekend, Sokoto State
Executive Council gave approval for the establishment of a model boarding
secondary school in Balle, the headquarters of the local government area.
Announcing the Council’s decision in Sokoto, the state commissioner of
information, Abdulkadir Jeli Abubakar, said the sum of N1 billion has been
earmarked for the project, and already, 30% mobilisation fee has been
approved for the contractor to begin construction work.
It would be recalled that during the last Democracy Day celebration,
Tambuwal had announced that a new boarding secondary school would be
established in Balle.
“Government is determined to establish a new Secondary School in Balle, an
initiative which is considered laudable by all stakeholders, in view of
the poor state of education in Gudu Local Government. The fact is that
despite concerted efforts by successive Governments, the level of
educational development in Gudu has consistently remained lowest in the
State.
“So the establishment of Boarding School in the area will invariably
improve enrolment, retention and transition of pupils from Primary to
Secondary Schools in the local government and its neighbours, such as
Tangaza and Illela,” the Governor added.
The project is expected to be completed in six months.
According to the commissioner, the sum of N241 million has been approved
by the council for the total renovation of GSS Tureta, while renovation of
GGSS Illela, whose approval was given by the Council, would cost
approximately N167 million.
“Similarly, the Council has approved the sum of over N304 million for the
complete renovation of Gamji Girls College Rabah and rehabilitation of
Sabon Birni Bridge at the cost of over N194 million,” he added.