SOKOTO State Government has been provided with the sum of N2.5 billion for the construction of the College of Medical Science at the Sokoto State University.
Part of the fund will also be ploughed into the construction of an administration block at Sultan AbdulRahman School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa (SASHTG), just as another part of the money will fund the constructive of another administration block, a library and clinic at the College of Nursing Science, Tambuwal (CNST).
Provided by the Abdulsamad Rabiu (ASR) Initiatives Africa foundation, the construction of College of Medical Science will gulp the sum of over N1.9 billion while that of the works at SASHTG and CNST will gulp over N189 million and over N322 million respectively.
Presenting the donation on behalf of the Chairman of BUA Group, former Minister for Health, Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, said the ASR Foundation extended the gesture to the Sokoto state government in order to compliment its efforts in developing the state.
While receiving the donation, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal directed the state ministry of budget in collaboration with those of higher education and health to begin preparations for a supplementary budget which will reflect ASR’s contribution and how it will be spent.
Explaining that the directive was for the purpose of transparency, Tambuwal said the state government has to follow due process in compliance with global best practices.
He reeled out some of his administration’s achievements since inception as the declaration of a state of emergency on education, provision of manpower, development of infrastructure as well as the provision of drugs and medicament to the people of the state.
Similarly, he said his administration has completed works on some general hospitals inherited from his predecessor and built new ones.
These are in addition to the four brand new hospitals that will be provided in rural communities across the state, just as the construction of three 150-bed capacity premier Hospitals continue apace in each of the three senatorial zones in the state to complement the services to be provided by the 950-bed capacity Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital (SOSUTH) also nearing completion in the state capital.
He further stated that, state government also conceptualized and is about to actualize the provision of Girls Junior Science Secondary schools and three girls boarding senior secondary school that would enroll not less than 2500 to 3000 students in the three senatorial districts in order to encourage the development of girl-child education in the state.
Equally, he said, a multi-billion naira Government Science Academy located at Kasarawa in the state metropolis is nearing completion to augment the take-off of an all girls Nana Asma’u University of Medical Sciences proposed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, whose foundation has been granted the land upon which the varsity will be built.
The governor also said state government has constructed an ultra-modern diagnostic centre that will be commissioned soon to cater for conducting of all types of medical tests and examinations.
In his remarks, Dr Hong acknowledged the cordial relationship between the Sokoto state government and BUA group, stressing that the support will go a long way in boosting the envisaged human capital development.
The ceremony featured presentation of an award letter and a dummy cheque by the donor to Governor Tambuwal.
SOSG donates patrol vehicles, motorcycles to security agents
SOKOTO State Government has donated 143 operational patrol vehicles and 550 motorcycles to security agencies within the state in less than two years.
Part of these were ten brand new Hilux vans that were donated to the vigilante groups in the state on Monday in order to boost their efforts in the renewed thrust by the state government to checkmate banditry, kidnapping and sundry criminality especially in the Eastern flank.
On June 3, 2020, Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal made a huge donation of 98 vehicles that were distributed to all the security agencies in the state.
26 days afterwards 50 Boxer (C125) motorcycles were donated to the 26 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Sokoto,
Eight months later Gov. Tambuwal gave 15 patrol vehicles out the 25 purchased for similar purpose to the Nigeria Police.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the Government Lodge One inside Government House, Sokoto, and Gov. Tambuwal said the gesture was to assist the vigilante groups in order for them to conduct surveillance and intelligence gathering that will facilitate the work of security agencies in the state.
The governor also said the government has provided the groups with uniforms and monthly allowances as well as other logistics to enhance the effective discharge of their duty.
Tambuwal also commended the leadership of the vigilante groups for their sacrifices, commitment and support to the security agencies in the state, saying
He cautioned the vigilante to ensure that their operational conduct is guided by security agencies in the state at all times, just as he also warned that no form of armed volunteering (‘Yan Sa Kai) would be tolerated by the government.
While urging citizens of the state wishing to join the vigilante groups to come forward for screening, Gov. Tambuwal thanked religious leaders and traditional rulers for their support and cooperation to the security agencies in the state.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner of Police, Kamaluddeen Okunola Kolawale expressed gratitude to the governor for the gesture, noting that it is in line with the notion of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on community policing.
He also assured that the Police will work hand in hand with the vigilante in the state.
Sokoto reduces out of school children
SOKOTO State Government has in the last two years reduced the number of out of school children in the state.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State made this known at a one day basic education development dialogue and the way forward organised by the state consultative committee on education development held at the International Conference Center, Nasarawa in the state metropolis.
According to him, his administration’s declaration of emergency in the education sector at its inception and the conscientious work of the consultative committee led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has started yielding result as the number of OOSC, between 2019/2020 was about 1.2 million, is now about 572,000.
This, he explained, means that over 600,000 children are now enrolled in schools.
‘’We must ensure that every child in Sokoto state goes back to school, is enrolled, enlisted and remain in school until the completion of his education,’’ he said
The governor also explained that the state government needed a lot of funding for the building of school infrastructure, payment of salary and provision of school materials among others.
On the need for the provision of Computer Based Test (CBT) centres, the governor assured that very soon the state government will provide them in schools where there are none.
He appealed to the organized private sector to support government’s effort towards resuscitating and sustaining the development of basic education in the state.
He said education is the collective responsibility of all because government alone cannot do it, hence the need for more support from the private sector towards ensuring the younger ones get qualitative education.
He stressed that educational development is key to the existence of the citizenry.
In his remarks, the chairman of the Sokoto state consultative committee on education, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, said the committee has constructed many schools across the state .
He explained that in all the schools computer laboratories equipped with the laptops and other information technology gadgets were provided to boost the children ability to learn computer at the basic level of their studies.
The Sultan also said very soon the committee will liase with businessmen, banks and other wealthy individuals in order to discuss the way forward on strengthening the activities of the committee without total dependence on government.
An overview of the committee’s achievements indicates that 100 integrated schools, 4 primary schools, and six junior secondary schools have been completed. Equally, two senior secondary schools were renovated at Sanyinna and Rabah towns while seven junior secondary schools are currently under construction.
