By Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar | KatsinaTimes
The Director of the Katsina State Agency for Mass Education, Hajiya Bilkisu Muhammad Kaikai, has identified illiteracy and unemployment as major factors fuelling insecurity in the state and across Nigeria.
She made the remarks on Wednesday, 13 August, during a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nasiru Yahaya Daura, at the Assembly Complex, Kaita Road, Katsina. She was accompanied by the North-West Zonal Director of the National Commission for Mass Education (NCME), Malam Yusuf Abdulkadir Aliyu, and his deputy, Malam Abubakar Jafaru.
From Zero Budget to Expanded Outreach:
Hajiya Kaikai commended the State Assembly for its support in reviving adult education in Katsina. She noted that when she assumed office, the agency had no budgetary allocation, but with the Assembly’s backing, it now operates with a budget of nearly ₦120 million.
“With this support, we have taken adult education programmes directly to communities across all local government areas in the state,” she said. “We have revived literacy programmes for adults throughout Katsina and hope for increased funding to further expand our work.”
She praised Governor Dikko Umar Radda for prioritising investment in education as a strategy to address insecurity.
“Governor Radda has the foresight to recognise that insecurity is rooted in illiteracy and unemployment. By prioritising education, especially adult literacy and vocational training, he is empowering people to become self-reliant and stay away from crime. This is the kind of leadership that delivers real change and builds our future,” she said.
Inspection of Vocational Centres:
In his remarks, Malam Yusuf Abdulkadir Aliyu disclosed that the NCME had appointed a Liaising Officer for vocational education in Katsina, nominated by Hajiya Kaikai, to serve as a link between the state and the NCME headquarters in Abuja.
He said the team inspected vocational centres across the state’s three senatorial districts — Katsina, Daura, and Funtua — to assess their facilities and operations. “Some centres are functional, while others have stopped operating due to lack of equipment or insecurity. We have prepared and submitted reports to our headquarters,” he said.
Aliyu added that during the inspection, they visited Mani, Kusa, Dutsinma, and Kankia LGAs, identifying centres that were active and those that were not.
Call for Improved Teacher Allowances
He urged the state government to increase the monthly allowance of adult education instructors, currently at ₦5,000, pointing out that Katsina lags behind other states in this regard. He also appealed for consideration to host the North-West NCME conference in Katsina, which he said would showcase the state’s progress in education and security.
Responding, Speaker Nasiru Yahaya Daura thanked the delegation and assured them that the Assembly would review their requests and act where possible.
“Katsina has a proud history in education, and we will not allow that legacy to fade,” he said.
The event was attended by local government legislators from Jibia, Kaita, Safana, Matazu, Dutsinma, Kankia, Mani, Bindawa, and others.
