From Muhammad Gazali Garba
Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, on Thursday commissioned the ultra-modern Sokoto All-Girls Science Academy (SAGSA), describing the institution as a landmark investment in the future of the girl-child and a major milestone in the transformation of the state’s education sector.
The Governor said the establishment of the specialised science academy was part of his administration’s commitment to providing quality education, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), to enable students compete favourably in a rapidly changing global environment.
The academy was commissioned by former Governor of Sokoto State, Malam Yahaya Abdulkarim, who commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for making education a priority and urged the state government to acquire full ownership of the institution.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Ahmed Aliyu said education remains the strongest foundation for sustainable development, economic growth, social stability and technological advancement.
He explained that this informed his administration’s decision to make education a key component of its Nine-Point SMART Agenda, with increased budgetary allocation and implementation of various interventions aimed at improving learning outcomes across the state.
The Governor disclosed that from May 2023 to date, his administration has embarked on several education projects, including the construction and renovation of schools, rehabilitation of existing facilities, provision of learning materials, recruitment of teachers and support programmes aimed at keeping children in school.
He listed some of the interventions to include the construction and renovation of 10 primary and secondary schools across the state at the cost of ₦8.4 billion, renovation of 240 schools with toilet facilities and boreholes, payment of ₦3.47 billion for WAEC, NECO and NABTEB examination fees, and the settlement of an inherited ₦824 million examination fee debt.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu added that his administration introduced monthly grants for principals of 329 secondary schools, procured and distributed desks and chairs, supplied teaching and learning materials, introduced school transportation services, established digital learning facilities, recruited 2,000 teachers and strengthened collaboration with development partners, including UNICEF and Plan International.
He said the state’s interventions had contributed significantly to reducing the number of out-of-school children, while efforts to integrate Qur’anic schools into the formal education system had provided literacy, numeracy and vocational skills to thousands of children.
According to him, students admitted into the Sokoto All-Girls Science Academy were selected transparently from all the 23 Local Government Areas of the state based strictly on merit, ensuring fairness, inclusiveness and equal opportunity.
The Governor assured that his administration would continue to support brilliant students and ensure that financial limitations do not prevent talented children from achieving their educational aspirations.
He described the academy as a product of a successful partnership between the Sokoto State Government and Maiguriba Group of Companies, expressing appreciation to the private partner for its commitment to educational development.
In his remarks, Secretary to the state government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa, disclosed that the state government had acquired a 51 per cent equity stake in the academy at the cost of ₦1.366 billion, making it the majority shareholder in the institution.
He explained that the partnership followed a proposal by the promoter of the academy, Dr. Nasir Argungu, for the establishment of a world-class science institution.
The SSG,said the state government would, in due course, acquire the remaining 49 per cent equity stake to make the academy fully owned by the government.
He described education and security as the two most important responsibilities of government, stressing that no meaningful development can take place without the protection of lives and property and the provision of quality education.
In his remarks, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Maiguriba Group of Companies, Dr. Nasir Argungu, expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Aliyu for supporting the vision and transforming the dream of establishing the academy into reality.
He described the institution as one of the best educational facilities in Nigeria, capable of competing with leading schools internationally.
Dr. Nasir said the academy has modern boarding facilities for more than 600 female students, state-of-the-art science laboratories, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre equipped with 50 desktop computers, a fully stocked clinic linked with Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital and Specialist Hospital, as well as standard sporting facilities.
He added that the institution has secured registration with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO), Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
He expressed optimism that by 2031, the academy would produce female medical doctors, engineers, pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers and other professionals who would contribute to the development of Sokoto State and Nigeria.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for placing education at the centre of his administration’s development agenda.
He said the academy represents hope and a brighter future for children in Sokoto State, adding that improved infrastructure, teacher recruitment, effective supervision and monitoring had enhanced discipline and learning outcomes in schools across the state.
He also revealed that the Sokoto All-Girls Science Academy had already emerged winner of a competition organised by the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Sokoto Chapter, despite being a newly established institution.
Commissioning the academy, former Governor of Sokoto State,Malam Yahaya Abdulkarim praised Governor Ahmed Aliyu for making education a priority, saying the transformation witnessed in the sector reflects purposeful leadership.
The former governor, who served as a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed by the development at Government Science Secondary School, Yabo, and the establishment of the new academy.
He advised the state government to complete the process of acquiring the remaining stake in the institution, arguing that strategic educational facilities should be fully controlled by government.
Abdulkarim noted that with the growing number of universities in Sokoto State, there was a need to strengthen secondary education to produce qualified students who would fill those institutions.
He expressed confidence that with the current reforms, Sokoto students would be able to compete favourably with graduates of leading schools across the country.
The commissioning of the Sokoto All-Girls Science Academy marks another significant step in Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s drive to reposition education as a catalyst for human capital development and sustainable growth in Sokoto State.
