BY AHMED AKANBI
Kaduna State governor, Senator Uba Sani, has told Northern political elite to stop chasing power at the centre and focus on a development blueprint to tackle the region’s crises.
Receiving the leadership of Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation Wednesday at the Government House, Kaduna, he said the North is bedeviled by out-of-school children, lack of skills-based education and poor healthcare delivery.
Sani thanked the Foundation for pushing political office holders to focus on human capital development, noting the North lacks a common agenda.
He described the forthcoming Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation Summit themed “Good Governance, Industry and Creativity, as well as Sustainable Development” as timely.
”I’m happy Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation is leading in this direction, because we need to sit down, look at our problems and address them holistically,” he said.
The governor decried high maternal and child mortality in Northern Nigeria, the huge number of out-of-school children and dearth of vocational education.
He said his administration prioritizes primary healthcare for the poor and rural dwellers without neglecting secondary healthcare, insisting healthcare is a fundamental right.
Quoting UNICEF, he said Nigeria has about 18 million out-of-school children and 70% are in the North.
He disclosed that over 500,000 children roamed Kaduna streets when he assumed office, but 360,000 have been returned to schools through household-mapping now adopted by Federal Ministry of Education as national model.
On skills, Sani said Kaduna has established Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development with campuses in Soba, Rigachikun and Samaru Kataf covering the three senatorial zones.
He said the institute, which trains in ICT, mechatronics and renewable energy, has graduated over 4,000 artisans and has capacity to train 30,000 youths yearly with globally recognized certification.
Earlier, former Niger State governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, who led the delegation, thanked Sani for allocating 50 hectares for Arewa Unity University and recalled late Governor Patrick Yakowa gave land for the Foundation’s office, adding the summit holds October 28, with Sani as the Chief Host.