To His Excellency, Education is First -Education Commissioner

EDUCATION

This is one of the sectors he declared a state of emergency to revamp. He organised an education summit where experts and stakeholders brainstormed to chart a path for education development. He is very keen on returning our out-of-school children back to the classroom. He has built over 5,000 classrooms across the state. He also gave approval to employ thousands of teachers.

♠ Prioritises the welfare of our teachers:
His Excellency prioritises the welfare of our teachers by paying as and when due. He gives bonuses and benefits to them. He is more interested in quality education. He is determined to bring back the excellence in education in Bauchi State and the implementation is a 100 percent assurance. Increasing enrollment You see, what we are trying to do is to see how we can enroll our students in all of our schools, not only at the pre-primary and primary levels, but even at the higher institutions so that we can improve the human capital and capacity and economic development of the state. Giving quality education to every child was the focus of our last summit, a roadmap on education was developed.

The roadmap is being implemented in the state with key attention and emphasis and all that it takes to be implemented so that we will bring backthe excellence of education in Bauchi state. The Governor is giving emphasis to the recruitment of qualified teachers across schools in the state.

Achievements

Having declared a State of Emergency in education in 2019, the administration of Senator Bala Mohammed as at September 2023, has spent over N17 billion to revitalise the sector. His Excellency has constructed hundreds of classrooms and renovated thousands of others with modern infrastructure. In 2023, Bala Mohammed administration organised an education summit to understand the sector and proper intervention. The government in 2022 employed 310 new teachers in compliance with the Federal Teachers RecruitmentScheme.

In 2023, the government of Kaura approved the immediate employment of 1,000 teachers to fill the gap. The employed teachers covered core subjects such as English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

The Ministry has recently procured printing machine to print examination papers to curb the exposure of questions to students which is aiding exam malpractice. In addition to these, the government has embarked on the construction of 238 new classroom blocks, renovation of 406 classrooms and school furniture worth N5 billion, a joint work between Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, and the state universal education board SUBEB-2017-2018 intervention.

The administration has accessed additional N3 billion UBEC funding after paying its counterpart fund forthe-2018-2019 intervention. It also upgraded three model primary schools in 3 LGAs Alkaleri, Dambam and Itas-Gadau communities affected are Dagauda of Dambam LGA, Yelwan Duguri Alkaleri LGA and Mashema in Itas-Gadau.

The model Schools encompasses classrooms,laboratories, ICT, Staff accommodation, computer center, health center and administrative blocks. Bala Mohammed is providing more access to the numerous out-of-school children, addressing WAEC racketeering, promoting teachers' welfare, reviewing schools' curriculum, introduction of biometric registers for teachers, enhancement of teachers' capacities etc. are some of the measures taken by the administration.

♠ Payment of JAMB registration for 3,812 SS3 students:
Over 6,000 mattresses were procured and distributed to all boarding schools as well as blankets and Mosquito nets to oarding students. BESDA is a World Bank-funded project that is implemented through UBEC across 17 states established to be having the highest number of out-of-school in Nigeria The Household survey by UNICEF and NBS 2016 from NEDS Survey revealed that Bauchi state has 1,034,995 out-of-school and so far BESDA is able to capture 60,642 and 33,733 from 1,050 and 365 Tsangaya and girl child centres respectively.

BESDA Train 60 master trainers; 3386 teachers and head teachers and 246 SSO on early grade reading NEI+ approach. BESDA Bauchi has mapped and enrolled more than 94,000 pupils from just 9 LGAs of the state. It has trained 2,838 Non formal facilitators in 9 LG A of the State.

♠ BESDA Project also organizes planning meeting for Annual School Census:
Schools enrollment 2019/2020, Pre-primary /primary school enrollment is 1,146,575 from 3,183 schools across the State. Junior secondary schools is 193,765 pupils from 753 schools while Senior secondary schools is 105,326 from 191 schools therefore total enrollment within the period under review is 1,445,666 from 4,127 schools.

Paid scholarship for local and foreign students to the tune of N133,280,514.00. Renovation of Women Education Centres in Dass, Misau, Jama'are,Katagum, Ningi, and Kirfi LGAs as well as supply of vocational and skill Acquisition Materials across the 20 LGAs under Bauchi State Agency for mass Education.

Supervised the full commissioning and handover of alternative high school, Bauchi. Support Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Program (ASSEP) by North East Development Commission with a number of schools across the State to serve as the programme centers. Upgraded Government Junior Secondary School, Kardam to Government Day Senior Secondary School, Kardam, in Dass LGA.

Launching of Bauchi State Schools Quality Assurance Software and training of the 437 Quality Assurance Officers on its usage. Inauguration of AGILE State Steering Committee. Commissioning and handover of the Newly Renovated Bauchi State Special Education Centre. Inauguration of the newly constituted State Council on Nutrition (SCN).

Requested the approval of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for plots of land for the construction of proposed JUNIOR AND SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS across the 20 LGAs under AGILE project. Recorded massive enrolment into various public schools across Bauchi State as a result of the new policy which gave equal chance to all students that sat for Merit School and BECE Examination across Bauchi State.

Increment in students' performance in the 2023 NECO result from 70.52% in 2021, 72.9% in 2022, to 83.51% in 2023. Directed speedy monthly distribution of essential and sufficient food supply to all boarding schools across Bauchi State. Flagged off Out-of-School and Back-to-School/ "A KOMA MAKARANTA" campaign across Bauchi State.

Domestication of elongation of service year period (65 years of age/ 40 years of service) and Teachers grade level promotion to GL15 like other CS.

His Excellency is More than a ’Bulldozer’ -Higher Education Commissioner

HIGHER EDUCATION AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION

Since my assumption in office about eight months ago, I have seen so many things he has done, even myself as an administrator, I have never studied those areas. This man is resilient. He is active, compared to his age, he can do everything at the right time. If he tells you that there is an event at 9:00 am he will be there by that time. I have learnt a lot from that. He doesn't leave an event until it finally ends. For example, during the retreat, he went there at 9:am and sat till 6:30 pm. He leads by example and we are learning from him. When they say bulldozer, he is more than that.

♠ He re-creates the Ministry to give attention to higher institutions:
This is one of his baby projects -making sure that higher education is being taken care of. During his first term, he must have seen the gaps between the lower education and the higher education and decided to close it. That is why he created the ministry. As it is, when I came on board I saw many things that needed urgent attention and worked so hard to fix them and backed me up. For example, we found out that a lot of courses were not accredited, and some of the courses have reached the reg flag to be closed down. On these, we wrote a memo to His Excellency and being a good Governor, he gave an express approval without further delay or calling me to come for an explanation. Almost all our courses have been accredited while some are waiting for the next accreditation.

♠ Establishes College Education (Technical):
This is one of a kind in Bauchi state, this is a college that wants to make students self- reliant. When you finish that college except you're extremely lazy that you will say you don't have a job. That technical College is for students to learn something. He has sent the Provost and myself to learn from those who have been running such schools before. We are about to take off. Remember he declared a state of emergency on education and he is honestly following it. We are trying our best to return education to its original position.

♠ Road Infrastructure on Campuses:
We have just started with the Bauchi State University, Gadau and now the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi. He promised to change the face of our institutions and has just approved the sum of N3.5bn to build a road network in ATAP. He is also going to do the same in other schools -including the College of Agriculture, he won't let them down. He has approved the sum of N84 million for the upliftment of the College of Agric.

♠ Advancing Higher Education Through Adequate Funding:
Although the Ministry for Higher Education and Regional Integration was created as recent as August 14, 2023 by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Mohammed (Kouran Bauchi, Jagaban Katagum), the achievements recorded within this short period are breathtaking. With a mandate of her principal to turnaround the faces of tertiary institutions in the state to global standards, the pioneer Commissioner, Dr. (Mrs) Lydia Haruna Tsammani has swung into action.

Scholarship awards for Bauchi State indigent students for the 2022/2023 academic session was paid and processed for 2023/2024 payment, buttressing His Excellency's high interest in the education sector. Indeed, institutions across the country are recording influx of Bauchi State indigenes enrollment.

Another notable achievement of the fledging ministry was the successful accreditation of five institutions' programmes that were expired for about four to five years carried out by the NUC, NCCE and NBTE. The institutions include ATAP Bauchi, ATBCOE Kangere, ASCOE Azare, BASUG, and ADRCOE&LS Misau.

The governor has also approved funds for the accreditation of Bauchi State College of Agriculture Bauchi. Since its creation, the ministry has continued to impress, reducing the proliferation of Private Tertiary Institutions that had not been recognised by the Ministry or the governing body such as NCCE andNABTEB.

The governor has approved and released take-off fund for the newly created COE (Technical) Dass with the acquisition of Bilyaminu Othman College of Education properties and structures to become part of COE (Technical) Dass, with approved from the governor for the appointment of the four new Principal Officers for the new COE who have since assumed office in April, 2024. The education loving governor has approved the construction of access of roads within the campuses of Bauchi State University Gadau and ATAP Bauchi. He has directed the acquisition of land for the expansion of ATAP Bauchi which the Ministry of Land is on it. The governor has also directed the complete fencing of the Bauchi State College of Agriculture Bauchi, which will soon start.

Another notable achievement of Governor Bala Mohammed in the Higher Education sector was the successful convocation of graduates of Bauchi State University Gadau, which has never been done for the past 10 years. The State Government donated 18 seater bus to National Association of Nigerian Students to aid movement and vigilance for the security of the students in Bauchi Institutions.

His Excellency has Supported us 100% in Accreditation of our Programmes -ATAP Rector

HIGHER EDUCATION

I'm just nine months in office, I acted as Rector for six months and three months as a substantive Rector. Within these nine months we have recorded a lot of successes. These are landmark achievements. When I came I met a lot of problems and started fixing these problems. His Excellency the Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has assisted us a lot on the issue of accreditation. Before, all our NCE programmes were not accredited but by the grace of God and the effort of the Governor, we have accredited 100% of the courses in NCE. We are now facing the NBTE and the Governor has approved all that is needed and we are waiting for the regulatory body to come over.

♠ Land expansion, perimeter fence and proposed new site:
We are aboutto introduce more courses and we have a very small land mass. His Excellency approved the expansion of ATAP, now the Ministry of land and the Surveyor General are working to ensure that all the compensations are done. This became possible because of the Governor's vision and foresight towards the development of the school.

♠ Leadership style:
He is a transformational leader. He is out to transform every sector of the state economy. One of my friends from Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Ondo came to Bauchi for a four-day visit and he called the Governor a bulldozer. He likened his present achievement to that of Abuja when he was the FCT Minister.

♠ ATAP: N3.5bn Approved for Campus Roads:
The administration of Governor Bala Mohammed has approved the sum of N3.5bn to construct a road network within the campus of Abubakar Tatari AN Polytechnic. Road as one of the challenges facing the institution has been addressed by the Governor.

♠ Approval for 107 employees:
In March, 2023, the government gave an executive waiver to the Polytechnic to employ and replace the members of staff who retired, transferred and died -totalling 107. Also, the government has funded the accreditation of seven degree programmes in affiliation with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi in November 2019. It recorded five additional Bachelor of Technology(Education) in 2023 making a total of 13 degree programmes.

The administration of Kauran Bauchi has also supported the accreditation of 34 National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in December, 2019.

In the same vein, the government had funded 100 percent of the cost of the accreditation of 17 NCE programmes by the National Commission for Colleges of Education.

We’ve Won 98 Medals in Less Than 1 Year - Sports Commissioner

YOUTH AND SPORTS

took over this Ministry last year in August, we have three parastatals in the Ministry -BACYWORD, Sport Council and the Wikki. Coming onboard one of the first things we did with His Excellency was to come up with visionary plans. When he came on board he looked at the state and took a baseline study and developed a policy plan which is "MyBauchiProject" and subsequently, #MyBauchiProject2.0. When I joined the government I also took a portion of that policy for my ministry. I'm working on about seven strategic goals: capacity building, empowerment, sports excellence, sustainability and goal seven which has to do with policy plans, advocacy and implementation. We are keen to have a timeline, as a project management professional I knowthe role of time in many things that we do. With time we will be seen to disintegrate those things into actionable points.

Talking about the Sports Council, I came into the Ministry when we had only about five medals but today we have 98 medals in just less than a year and that is way far beyond my target. Looking at it from a strategic perspective we have had a major turnaround initiative. On ranking, based on the timeline I met in the office, we were ranked 32 but now we are 14th in the country which is a major achievement versus how we met the government in place. That is one.

Two, talking about employability skills, we introduced the Kaura Skill Empowerment Programme. From the above explanation on capacity building and empowerment being my number one strategic goals to achieve results. We introduced this due to the fact we live in the education of the past, our education at some point is no longer relevant. We keep complaining as young people that there are no jobs in the country, and that's not true! The thing is some young people do not have the required knowledge to qualify for jobs. Degree does not have value to give one job again in this country. That is what we are working on as a government.

We have introduced over five programmes as a ministry to coverthegaps. We have partnerships with Base University, Abuja, the UN economy, NITDA and others. We are having different online programmes and up till this moment down to diploma, Artificial Intelligence, data science, machine learning and so many others all free for the people of Bauchi state to bridge the existing gaps.

Then the 3MTT (3 Million Technical Talent a programme of the federal government), Bauchi State is number in terms of enrollment, meaning in two quota system when the training comes into effect, we have the highest number of youths that are equipped to align with the global standards, which is one of the achievements.

On sports, I just got back from Europe, I have been to about six countries trying to see how we can have partnerships with those countries. We have great understanding with them and we have partnerships with about six different cities. Some are eagerly waiting for us to sign a memorandum of understanding to see how we can take sports beyond entertainment. We are taking sports as an investment-centric issue. It is more than oil, it is more than the Kolmani oil well. Imagine a player being sold for Clmillion and $lmillion, if that's what can venture, fine. All thanks to His Excellency for his support, we are on the pipeline. We are now trying to establish that MoU, His Excellency has approved the sports festival back in the state, at the end of this month we are going to launch it and he is going to make it an annual event. He has approved a sports academy within the state and through that, we are going with the best minds within the industry, we will fish them out through talent training and we involve them and bring them to the academy setting. We do the bridging from local communities, bring them to the academy, award them scholarship education then we.

take the existing match training where they have a structured setting. We transform intellectually, technically and all perspectives to align with European standards. When we do this, then from there we take them up. This is none of the sectors we are taking as alternatives to an oil- based economy and we have the commitment and now we are going into an action plan. We have investors from Africa, 3MTT, 3A Academy and others who are willing to key into our ideology in Bauchi.

Kaura is an Emancipator of the Rural Populace -Rural Development Commissioner

RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIAL DUTIES

♠ Leadership qualities of His Excellency:
His Excellency, Senator Abdulkadir Bala Mohammed is someone that I have worked with, not even here in Bauchi as a Governor, but right from our days at the Federal Ministry of Transport where I worked directly under him. He was really instrumental to my being an efficient officer because he was the one who tutored me on the rudiments of civil service. So, he's someone I know who is committed. Whatever he dose, he does it with passion, with commitment and zeal.

The Governor is someone who was born a leader, if I can put it this way. He was born a leader and we have seen it. Not only when he was in the Senate or as a Minister of the FCT or as the governor of Bauchi State, he is a born leader. So this has given him the opportunity to even lead this country because, by all indications and with what we are seeing in him, he has displayed all the qualities of being, one day, the President of this country.

♠ Campaign promises vs promises kept:
For one to even say whether my Governor has perfomed being his Campaign DG, that's an understatement, that's even what earned him the second term in office. Right from his first four years, he did a lot of things in this state: in terms of infrastructure, educationally, health- wise and stuff like that. We really campaigned for the Governnor's reelec ti on in 2023 using his performance, what he did and what was on the ground and are visible for everyone to see. Governor Mohammed has done so much in Bauchi State and I can assure you that since the inception of this 4th Republic, there is no Governor of Bauchi State that has done what he did in terms of development in the State.

I'm notsayingthis because I am a part of this government, I even joined him in 2023, so it is not as if it is because I am part of this government, we should call a spade a spade irrespective of whatever it is. I am just saying it from the bottom of my heart. I was part of previous administrations, so I know what they did and I know what he is doing now.

♠ His Excellency's performance in your Ministry:
I can rate him with an A because this is the first time in the history of Bauchi State that the Ministry of Rural Development is experiencing tremendous developmental strides in terms of road constructions in the rural areas and other rural related programmes like water, electricity, among others. Just recently, the Executive Council approved the construction of five roads under my Ministry which are all rural in nature, they are 115 kilometers in total. That's to show to you that he's someone that has the rural populace at heart, we even call him "the Emancipator of the rural areas," because he's a rural person.

♠ What you've learned working closely with him:
I told you earlier, I have cut my teeth under him right from over 20 years now, back in the ministry as a civil servant, the two of us, so it's not someone I just got to know. He's been a mentor, someone who really taught me a lot of things anx thank God because those are the things that brought me to where I am today

♠ Accelerated Rural Development Through Road Network:
Bauchi State under the leadership of His Excellency Governor Bala Mohammed, the Kauran Bauchi, has made a lot of giant strides in the rural sector of the state in the last five years. Through his dynamic leadership, the lives and livelihoods of the majority of the people of the rural communities have been transformed. His administration launched the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) project in collaboration with the International Development Association (IDA), a subsidiary of the World Bank, and the L'Agence Franchise de Developpement (French Development Agency or AFD), through the RAAMP project. The RAAMP project addresses the gap between agricultural producers and their markets in a bid to improve the economy of rural areas through improved road connectivity of smallholder farmers to profitable and competitive markets.

The administration of Governor Mohammed has, within the last five years commenced the construction of roads and the design of agro- logistic hubs (ALHs) in six locations to be constructed as part of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP). Some of these road projects that have transformed rural communities in the state include the 19 kilometer Liman Katagum - Luda - Lekka, Awarded At The Cost Of N2.4 Billion, The 30 Kilometer Charachara - Ragwam - Magwamshi - Lafiya, 25 kilometre Mainamaji - Badara - Kuka - Pali, Akuyam - Gwaram - Hardawa, 15 kilometre Durum - Nahuta And The 25 Kilometre Garin Garni - Gadai - Madufa. The six agro-logistic hubs (ALHs) will be located in Alkaleri, Maraban Liman Katagum, Gadarmaiwa, Soro, Gamawa and Jama'are.

The administration embarked on a reform to transform the rural road sector in order to develop and maintain rural access infrastructure sustainably. Hence the Law to establish two agencies were assented to by Governor Mohammed in December, 2022 namely RARA, for the overall development; and SRF, for the management, development, reconstruction, rehabilitation and maintenance of Class C and Class D Roads, including ancillary structures such as road furniture and bridges, as a repository of revenues accruing from road user related charges and other sources as stated in the Law for management, design, development, reconstruction, rehabilitation and maintenance of Class B, Class C and Class D roads in the state. This institutional reform initiative has placed Bauchi State in the lead in amongst 19 sister states implementing the RAAMP project, and this received commendation at the last project Mid-term review that was conducted by the World Bank and the French Development Agency.

Governor Bala Mohammed is a 'He-for-She' -Women Affairs Commissioner

WOMEN AFFAIRS AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

♠ Women appointment:
His Excellency the Executive Governor can be best described as He-for-She Governor. That is, he gives priority to the welfare of women. Take a look at the composition of his cabinet, both the first and second term, then look at the appointment of the heads of extra-ministerial departments. It shows that the Governor believes in women and gives opportunities for us to thrive and attain our potential.

In his first term, women in the cabinet were seven. This is more than the 35 percent affirmative action. This second term, in just one year, we can count more than seven in his government.

♠ Domestication of Child Rights Act, VAPP Law:
His Excellency's administration stands against violence against anyone, more importantly, the women. Look at the domestication of the VAPP Law, look at the domestication of the Child Protection Law 2023 and the composition of the Bauchi State Action Committee on Gender Based Violence.

♠ Constitution of Action Committee on GBV:
With this Committee, we have enlightened our people on speaking out against the monsters who are raping, assualting and harassing our girls and women. Also, we have arrested a lot of perpetrators of these acts. Many of them are facing the book, many others are facing trials.

For the victims of the rape, we have a Referral Centre in Bauchi town where they are being taken care. We are doing these in collaboration with other partners and non¬governmental organizations. If you could remember the case of a six-year- old Hauwa from Jama'are and the 11 years old boy whose eyes were plugged, His Excellency's action on these cases and many other shows that he cares for children of the state.

The Governor has always been supporting our programmes and policies to advance women issues. See numerous skills acquisition programmes he rolled out and he gave women a substantial amount of slots. Apart from his contributions, Her Excellency too has personally championed the welfare of women. She empowers women through her foundation, Al-Muhibbah. It is just about women and children.

Achievements of Ministry for Women Affairs and Child Development:
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State is a leader that respects and believes in the intellectual capacity and key role of women in the development of any society. This philosophy is the reason beyond his massive commitment and investment in the lives of women and children in the state.

In the past five years of his administration, Governor Mohammed, has initiated various policies and programmes to uplift the standard of living of women and improve the lives of children. No fewer than 1,427 women benefited from Conditional Cash Transfer in over 1000 communities in Bauchi and Katagum LGAs under which a lot of vulnerable women have set up micro businesses raised on gender based violence such as goat fattening, petty tradingto support livelihood.

His administration also supported the fight against gender based violence (GBV) at all levels. As a demonstration of his commitment to the welfare of women, children and the vulnerable population, the state government assed the Violent against Persons (VAPP) law which was hailed in the country and beyond. His administration has created avenues at all levels to offer psycho-social support and rehabilitation of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. A Trauma therapy center has been set up with active support of UNFPA. The administration also established Skills Acquisition Centres to train women in various vocational trades' such as; tailoring, weaving,fashion design and hairdressing.

A man with a large heart, the Governor approved the general renovation of Orphanage Home, provision of facilities and direct purchase of monthly foodstuffs for rapid response. This is in addition to distribution of foodstuffs and clothing to 650 households across the State. Not only that, the ministry ensured payments of outstanding health tickets to five general hospitals OVC and caregivers; Specialist Hospital Bauchi, general hospitals in Dambam, Kirfi, Ganjuwa, and Toro. Also paid medical bills on surgical/medical cases refer to tertiary institution.

Besides, the administration ensured payments of NABTEB registration to OVC College Students, distribution of essentials drug to 53 primary health centers across the State, eye surgeries to 370 OVC Caregivers in collaboration with IIRO, eye treatment to over 600 college students and staff, disbursement of over N28 million as allowances to OVC caregivers in collaboration with an international organization and provision of starter packs to trained 200 most vulnerable women caregivers across the state.

Other notable achievements in the ministry include provision of scholastic materials to 5000 OVCs in each academics session across the State (uniforms, school sandals, customized school bags, white socks, exercise books, and writing materials.