Kukah criticizes politicians for neglecting education in Northern Nigeria, highlighting the region’s poor educational outcomes.
Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese has expressed concern over the poor state of education in Northern Nigeria, blaming public officials for prioritizing votes over meaningful development.
Speaking at a town hall meeting on women’s inclusion in peace and security organized by Global Right in collaboration with the Kukah Foundation, Bishop Kukah reflected on the efforts of early leaders like the late Sir Ahmadu Bello.
He praised Bello’s initiative of mass education, Yaki Da Jahilci, which sought to combat ignorance in the region.
“Back then, Sardauna introduced mass education to ensure our people could read and write,” Kukah noted. “But today’s politicians take our votes and give us poverty instead of education.”
He emphasized that knowledge has no substitute, warning that ignorance is a close neighbour to poverty.
Bishop Kukah also advocated for increasing women’s participation in societal development, stressing that their empowerment could reduce poverty and improve family welfare.
“Women face vulnerabilities in our society. With education, they can contribute more, easing the burden on husbands and supporting families during crises,” he said.
He highlighted that educated women can better support peacebuilding and security efforts, including intelligence gathering.
Adding to the discussion, Umar Sani Jabbi, District Head of Gagi, highlighted the need to prioritize women’s education, particularly in healthcare.
He noted that many maternal deaths result from a lack of female doctors and nurses, as some husbands resist allowing male medical professionals to treat their wives.
“With more female doctors and nurses, maternal deaths would significantly decrease in our communities,” Jabbi stated.
The event emphasized the importance of collaboration and education in addressing societal challenges and securing a better future for all.
