Jan 17, 2025
Below is his farewell speech.
PROTOCOLS
My policy thrust as the Hon Commissioner of Education has focused on creating access to qualitative education to the less privileged child by improving standards and access in our public schools. This, I know is the only way out of the current problems that had bedeviled our dear state in particular and the nation at large, because, the root cause of all security challenges in our nation today is the resultant effect of ‘Poor Education’.
In trying to achieve these policy objectives, we collectively, with the utmost support from the peoples’ governor, His Excellency Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, mni, FNSE, achieved the following:-
1. Organized two (2) Principals Annual Conferences to address all emerging issues in the education sector in our state and award ceremony to most outstanding staff in the education sector.
2. Harmonized the School Calendar in the State
3. Reviewed the existing State Education Law to give the Ministry of Education the powers and relevance it deserves; thereby creating an enabling environment where all Education Stakeholders work in synergy and harmony.
4. Carried out the competency test for all Local Education Authority (LEA) teachers and implemented the thirty thousand naira minimum wage to five thousand, eight hundred and thirty-four (5,834) teachers who have qualified.
5. Closed down all learning centers, relocated and re-established eleven (11) rural schools, namely:-
√ Government Day Secondary School Magumeri (Magumeri LGA)
√ Government Day Secondary School Bama (Bama LGA)
√ Government Girls Secondary School Bama (Bama)
√ Government Day Secondary School Gwoza (Gwoza LGA)
√ Brigadier Maimalari Government Day Secondary School (MMC)
√ Government Day Secondary School Auno (Konduga LGA)
√ Government Day Secondary School Ngamdu (Kaga)
√ Government Secondary School Gubio (Gubio LGA)
√ Government Day Secondary School Gajiram (Nganzai LGA)
√ Government Day Secondary School Mussa (Askira Uba LGA)
√ Government Day Secondary School Alagarno (Askira Uba LGA)
6. Facilitated the establishment and commencement of twelve (12) new Secondary Schools namely:-
√ Government Jnr. Secondary School Mandarari (Konduga LGA)
√ Government Day Secondary School Zabbarmari (Jere LGA)
√ Government Day Secondary School Bulabulin– Ngarannam (MMC)
√ Government Day Secondary School Benisheikh (Kaga LGA)
√ Government Day Secondary School Gumsuri (Damboa)
√ Government Day Secondary School Banki (Bama LGA)
√ Government Junior Day Secondary School Askira (A/Uba LGA)
√ Higher Islamic College Monguno (Monguno LGA)
√ Higher Islamic College Biu (Biu LGA)
√ Government Day Secondary School Buratai (Biu LGA)
Government Day Secondary School Yirmithalang
( Kwaya Kusar)
Government Technical School wuyo (Bayo)
7. Established the Second Chance Girls/Women Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship School, graduated and empowered the first set of 150 gradaunds.
8. Re-established WAEC and NECO Examinations Centres in (Auno, Benisheikh, Ngamdu, Gajiram, Monguno, Dikwa, Mafa, Konduga, Bama, Damboa, Gubio and Damasak) after relocation.
9. Commenced the implementation of a World Bank supported Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project in the state to address the infrastructural deficits in public schools, empowerment of the vulnerable Girls as well as training in Digital and Life Skills.
10. Coordinated an intensive/aggressive Quality Assurance and Schools supervision programme by harnessing and pooling together the resources of the Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Teaching Service Board (TSB) and Borno State Arabic and Sangaya Education Board (BOSASEB)
11. Restored school accessibility by providing bicycles and vehicles to public schools across the state.
12. Worked out modalities to improve, sustain, and expand the school feeding program
13. Facilitated the distribution of school furniture, uniforms, and books to public schools
14. Upgraded facilities in the Ministry of Education Headquarters and provided six (6) additional vehicles to facilitate the Ministry’s activities.
15. Put in place measures to curb the proliferation of private schools by reviewing the existing guidelines, introduction of accreditation, and re-accreditation exercises.
Let me at this juncture, salute and thank all the teachers who accepted to go for rural postings for their commitment to work despite the numerous hazards of their operational areas and those who have distinguished themselves with outstanding records of dedication, not forgetting extremely good Education Secretaries and Principals who always want to make a difference. I urge you to continue in that direction as posterity always rewards hard work and dedication. I wish to thank all staff of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Teaching Service Board (TSB), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Borno State Arabic and Sangaya Education Board (BOSASEB) for the cooperation and team-work I have enjoyed so far. I urge you not to relent in upholding the feat we have collectively achieved after my exit.
I wish to also thank all the good people of Borno State for their best wishes, support, understanding and cooperation throughout my tenure as Commissioner of Education in the State and I wish to seek the forgiveness of everyone that I might have offended unknowingly in the course of discharging my duties.
Permit me to end this farewell address by thanking my boss and mentor, His Excellency Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, mni, FNSE, CON, the Executive Governor of Borno State, for giving me this privilege to serve my state and Fatherland
It is now my singular honour to handover the affairs of the Borno State Ministry of Education to the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Aishatu Musa Sheikh with gratitude for the guidance, understanding and support you have given me throughout my tenure.
Thank you very much indeed