A former Senator, Shehu Sani, has cautioned about the imminent collapse of public schools especially in Northern Nigeria, calling on the leaders in the region to take education with all the seriousness it deserves.

He spoke during the 40th anniversary of Government Science College, Kagara, organised by the Kagara Old Boys Association (KAGOBA), Class of 1984 in Minna on Saturday.

Sani recalled that public schools used to be the best ones to acquire education, saying, “because they had teachers and lecturers from within and outside of the country.

“It is unfortunate that today, some of the public schools that produced the best people in the history of this country are drooling over what they used to be.

“In our days in schools, we had teachers from Pakistan, Indian, Canada and Egypt, among us now are professors, doctors, engineers, senators, captains of industries and army generals, among others.

“It is unfortunate what public schools have become today, especially in the north, the north must take education seriously, as it lacks behind with the highest number of out-of-school children,” he said.

The outspoken former lawmaker also lamented that the activities of bandits and terrorists have destroyed the educational fabric and basis in northern Nigeria.

Sani expressed dismay that GSC Kagara that had produced some of the best professionals in the country was now desolate and deserted due to the bandits’ attack where students were abducted.

He, however, supported the relocation of the school to Minna for the meantime, adding that security has improved under the President Bola Tinubu led- administration.

The former senator said there was evidence that many top terrorists’ commanders had been eliminated across the country.

Earlier in his welcome address, Alhaji Jafar Tukur, Chairman of KAGOBA, said the college, established 1968, started operation in Minna between 1967 and 1968, was later moved to Kagara in 1973.

Tukur, represented by Dr Philip Ibrahim, Vice Chairman, said the college was unique in the history of Niger, adding that all professionals in the state’s civil service were products of Kagara, Kutigi, Izom and Maryam Babangida Colleges.

Tukur described as ‘unfortunate the current condition of the school,’ adding that for ten years, KAGOBA’s executives were responsible for the procurement of furniture for the students to write WAEC in the school.

It will be recalled that gunmen had in February, 2021 abducted 27 students, three staff and 12 family members from the college, Kagara.

The then Gov. Sani Bello directed that all boarding schools in Rafi, Shiroro and Munya LGAS be closed down and since then, the school has remained closed. (Vanguard)

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