By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Kebbi State Scholars' Association has expressed its desire to partner with the Kebbi State Gover...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Kebbi State Scholars' Association has expressed its desire to partner with the Kebbi State Government to facilitate the rapid development of the state.
This was disclosed during a courtesy visit to Governor Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday by the association’s executive members and other delegates.
Chairman of the association, Prof. Dahiru Mohammed-Argungu, said the visit aimed to formally introduce the association to the governor and highlight its unique role.
“We are here to formally introduce ourselves and inform Your Excellency that this association is the first of its kind in the nation, particularly in Northern Nigeria,” he said.
“The association comprises academics, and by implication, Your Excellency, you are one of us. We are proud that a teacher is at the helm of affairs in our state.
“Our mission is rooted in the belief that this partnership can foster meaningful development in Kebbi State.”
Prof. Mohammed-Argungu affirmed the association’s commitment to supporting the present administration across various sectors to elevate the state to greater heights.
“These scholars represent a valuable intellectual resource for Kebbi State. While we acknowledge the commendable progress made by your administration, we are ready to contribute further,” he added.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Shehu Ma’azu, identified potential areas of collaboration with the scholars, including agriculture, skills acquisition, information and communication technology (ICT), and seed production.
Prof. M.D. Magaji of Usmanu Danfodiyo University emphasized the critical importance of using certified seeds in farming.
“Seeds are a vital component of successful agriculture. Unfortunately, many farmers use grains instead of certified seeds. Grains are for consumption, while seeds are specifically developed for planting,” he explained.
He warned against reliance on foreign seed companies, urging the state to strengthen its local seed systems to protect its agricultural integrity.
In his response, Governor Nasir Idris expressed appreciation for the visit and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to development.
“Kebbi is moving — and moving forward,” he declared.
He noted that his administration inherited significant infrastructural decay, but within less than two years, over 2,000 schools across the state had been rehabilitated.
“We have constructed and equipped about 346 primary and secondary schools. We also extended the years of service and retirement age for teachers to reduce the burden of retirement,” the governor said.
He further revealed that over 2,000 qualified teachers were recently recruited to boost the education sector.
Governor Idris highlighted other key development projects, including the completion of a new secretariat ready for commissioning, which will accommodate over 25,000 civil servants.
He added that the long-delayed Koko–Dabai road project had been revoked and re-awarded to three reputable companies to ensure speedy completion and quality work for the benefit of the Zuru people.
The governor also announced that all palaces of the four first-class emirs had undergone major renovations, alongside the provision of SUV vehicles to the traditional rulers.
In efforts to ease the economic burden on citizens, the governor said the administration had distributed 520 trailers of fertilizer free of charge and procured 650 truckloads of assorted food items for distribution, to mitigate the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
As a labour leader committed to workers' welfare, Governor Idris disclosed that he had recently ordered the absorption of casual workers into the mainstream civil service, a move aimed at ending casualisation.
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