The human capital development indices of the Northwest is closer to that of the war- torn Afghanistan, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said.
El-Rufai spoke on Tuesday at the ‘Human Capital Development Communications Strategy Validation Meeting’ organised by National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“I represent the North West zone in Human Capital Development Council. And as you know, our part of the country is afflicted with the highest numbers of out-of-school children. Some of the highest poverty rate and some of the highest drop-out rates in our schools,” the governor said.
“As if that is not enough, many of our schools are now closed due to the insecurity around our boarding schools. In most of the states of the Northwest, schools have been closed for a while, while security operations are taking place making our educational situation even worse.
“Our health statistics are not better. This is why you will notice that only the North West has the highest representation of governors or Deputy Governors here. My elder brother, the deputy governor of Katsina, is here. Because this subject is very, very important to us. It is what keeps us awake at night.”
“We have the largest population of any geopolitical zone in the country. That is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing if we keep the population healthy and educate the children and give them skills for the future. Because, if they’re not educated, they’re not healthy and they feel hopeless.
“This is what we’re seeing with our insecurity. Most of the bandits we arrest have never gone to school. They have no notion of religion, whether Christianity or Islam, and they have no hope. If we don’t invest in education, health care, nutrition, our situation will just get worse.”
The governor said only political leadership would avert the Afghanistan scenario. He said this can be achieved through massive investment in the country’s education sector to address the menace of banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping, among other social ills.
He accused governors of neglecting education thus: “Why are state governments not budgeting at at least 25 percent, 26 percent for education and for health care, as recommended by you the United Nations (UN) agencies?”
“And when these monies are budgeted why are they not spent in the right available, that politicians have a four year election cycle? But it takes 30 years for the result of investment in education to show. But building roads, building secretariats are clearly evident,” he said.
