The Centre for Information Technology and Development has distributed school uniforms and learning materials to pupils of Bakin Kamanda Nomadic School in Danshoshiya community, Kiru Local Government Area of Kano State.
The Executive Director of CITAD, Yunusa Zakari-Ya’u, who led the exercise, said the gesture was aimed at supporting education in hard-to-reach rural communities, particularly among Fulani nomads.
He said encouraging school attendance among pupils required the provision of basic learning needs such as uniforms, books and pencils.
“We supported the pupils with 100 uniforms today,” he said.
He noted that lack of education remained a major factor contributing to insecurity, stressing that supporting education would help reduce involvement in criminal activities.
“It is no longer news that many individuals engaged in banditry and other crimes are linked to lack of education. Supporting education will help curb insecurity,” he added.
Zakari-Ya’u called on government and relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts in supporting schools across the state, especially in underserved communities.
He assured that CITAD would sustain such interventions within its capacity, noting that a similar exercise had earlier been carried out in Sumaila Local Government Area.
Earlier, the District Head of Kiru, Alhaji Ibrahim Hamza-Bayero urged parents to prioritise their children’s education.
Hamza-Bayero, who was represented by the Village Head of Dangora, Alhaji Yusuf Harisu, he said Islamic education remained important, Western education was equally vital for Fulani nomadic children, as it would equip them to better support their families and avoid social vices.
Also speaking, the Headmaster of Bakin Kamanda Nomadic School, Nasiru Ibrahim-Dangora, commended CITAD for the support.
He highlighted challenges facing the school, including inadequate classrooms, shortage of teachers for over 300 registered pupils, lack of toilets and absence of learning aids such as toys.
On his part, the Deputy Director of Nomadic Education at the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Ghali Sulaiman, commended CITAD for the initiative.
Sulaiman said he had not witnessed such an intervention in the school since its establishment, praising the organisation for focusing on hard-to-reach communities to promote inclusive education.
He added that the commitment of the Kano State Government to education reforms was evident in the construction of nomadic schools across the state.
Sulaiman urged parents to play an active role in ensuring their children acquire formal education, noting that nomadic livelihoods such as cattle rearing and trade increasingly require formal knowledge to thrive.