Sokoto: Nigeria’s only LG without secondary school gets one

From Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto

THE only local government area in Nigeria without a secondary school has just secured one.

Gudu Local Govern­ment Area in the state has suffered the misfortune of having some of the worst statistics in education in the world. Apart from not having a senior secondary school to cater for its esti­mated 120,000 residents, a 2013 survey showed that out of 1,890 students in ju­nior secondary schools in the local government area, only one was a female.

However, at the week­end, Sokoto State Executive Council led by Governor Aminu Tambuwal 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 for Informa­tion, Abdulkadir Abubakar, said N1 billion has been ear­marked for the project.Al­ready, 30 per cent mobilisa­tion fee has been approved for the contractor to begin construction work.

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,” he said.