Gudu Local Government Area in Sokoto State, northwest Nigeria, has got its first senior secondary school, courtesy of the state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Prior to the approval, Gudu, with a population estimated at about 120, 000 was the only Local Government Area in Nigeria without a senior secondary school.
It has suffered the misfortune of having some of the worst statistics in education in the world.
A 2013 survey showed that out of 1,890 students in Junior Secondary Schools in the LGA, only one of them is a female.
But, all that is about to change as Sokoto State Executive Council has given 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 of information, Abdulkadir Jeli Abubakar, said the sum of N1 billion has been earmarked for the project, and already, 30% mobilisation fee has been approved for the contractor to begin construction work.
It would be recalled that 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.
“So the establishment of Boarding School in the area will invariably improve enrolment, retention and transition of pupils from Primary to Secondary Schools in the local government and its neighbours, such as Tangaza and Illela,” the Governor added.
The project is expected to be completed in six months.
According to the commissioner, the sum of N241 million has been approved by the council for the total renovation of GSS Tureta, while renovation of GGSS Illela, whose approval was given by the Council, would cost approximately N167 million.
“Similarly, the Council has approved the sum of over N304 million for the complete renovation of Gamji Girls College Rabah and rehabilitation of Sabon Birni Bridge at the cost of over N194 million,” he added.
