The Zamfara State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Wadatau Madawaki, has highlighted the government’s focus on girl-child education. He emphasized sustaining recent achievements in academic excellence, notably where 21 out of 30 students from Zamfara excelled in the National Examination Council (NECO) Entrance Examination.
Madawaki made these remarks in Gusau, the state capital, during an address to teachers. He attributed the students’ exceptional performance to factors such as the prompt payment of salaries under the 30,000 Naira National Minimum Wage and the promotion of teachers.
Historically, Zamfara State in Northwest Nigeria has struggled educationally, ranking poorly nationally with a significant number of out-of-school children and low performance in examinations like WAEC and NECO. However, recent efforts have seen a turnaround, with Zamfara now ranking second nationally and first among Northern states in the NECO Entrance Examination for Gifted Students.
Madawaki expressed satisfaction with these improvements, crediting Governor Dauda Lawal’s commitment to reforming the education sector as pivotal.
Hauwa Ibrahim, Chairperson of the Zamfara State Senior Secondary School Education Board, encouraged women to serve as role models for girls, promoting education as a tool to combat poverty, particularly with the introduction of entrepreneurial education in schools.
The Commissioner urged teachers to uphold their standards, aiming to fulfill the government’s goal of declaring an education emergency in the state.
