Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar, Katsina Times 

KATSINA, 27 July 2024 - Barrister Abdullahi Garba Faskari, Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, represented Acting Governor Alhaji Farooq Lawal Jobe at the combined convocation ceremony of the Federal College of Education Katsina. The event, marking the 27th to 43rd convocation series, celebrated the achievements of the institution's graduates and honoured distinguished personalities with fellowship awards.

In his address, Barrister Faskari conveyed warm greetings from the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON, to the college's management and staff for successfully organising the ceremony. He congratulated the graduating students and esteemed indigenes who received fellowship awards, including Governor Radda, Her Excellency Hajiya Fatima Shema, the Emir of Katsina Dr. Abdulmuminu Kabir Usman, and the Emir of Daura Alh. Faruk Umar.

Barrister Faskari underscored the administration's commitment to prioritising education, aligning with its strategic policy document, "Building Your Future." Recent reforms have seen the Ministry of Education renamed the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, while the Department of Higher Education has been upgraded to a full-fledged ministry. These changes aim to enhance the prominence of education in the state.

Highlighting the administration's achievements over the past year, Barrister Faskari mentioned the recruitment of over seven thousand teachers, including more than four thousand graduates from the college. He also noted the payment of mobilisation fees for the construction of 75 new secondary schools under the AGILE programme, amounting to N5.68 billion. Furthermore, the state government alleviated the financial burden on parents by covering exam fees totalling N1.39 billion for WAEC, NECO, NBAIS, and NAPTEB, and settling an outstanding liability of N177 million for NECO exam fees.

The state also allocated N3.2 billion in scholarship allowances to 260,899 continuing and new students of tertiary institutions from the 2017 to 2023 academic sessions.

Barrister Faskari urged the graduates to apply their professional training to uphold the image of education. He concluded by expressing appreciation to the college's management for recognising eminent personalities with fellowship awards and congratulated the awardees on behalf of the government and people of Katsina State.

"May Allah continue to bless Katsina State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria," he concluded.