It is paramount to note that today’s world recognises community development, peaceful coexistence and economic prosperity better than anything else.
In addition, both the international communities and their nerve of functional discharge of duties, the NGOs, give much emphasis to support group of people with same interest and purpose, especially with a target to bring socio-economic prosperity to themselves and neighbourhood.
It is in light of this that Yobe state deserves to have a stakeholders’ Forum which shall be saddled with setting modalities for Yobe’s unity, growth and prosperity, especially in the areas of education, commerce, agriculture and lots more, in a unifying atmosphere.
This must be distinct from any political, tribal nor religious formation. The forum must encompass credible and highly knowledgeable intellectuals and technocrats.
Despite the fact that we have lost some figureheads sons of the soil, like the late Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri, the GNPP presidential candidate, Malam Adamu Ciroma, former Minister of Agriculture, Finance and Governor of CBN, yet there is a need to scout and come up with a committee of persons who shall be meeting with the government so that blueprints for strategic plans shall be drawn to guide in taking the state to a greater height. Surely, the state needs to harvest from the leadership skill and knowledge of people like Dr Aji (former head of service of the federation), Alhaji Ibrahim Talba, Dr Ali Adamu Tikau, Dr Lawan Ngama, Alhaji Lawan Dan Hausa, Hassan Sale (former SMG Yobe state), Alhaji Tijjani Mato, Alhaji Ibrahim Nikau, Alhaji Ibrahim Tumsa, Alhaji Babayo Hassan, Ambassador Dagari, Professor Adaya, Prof Mala Daura, Prof Alabi, Alhaji Yusuf Madaki, Prof Shettima Saidu, Prof Mu’azu Nguru, Prof Maimuna Waziri, Alhaji Dauda Yahaya, Mai Sanda Lawan, Nagabasko Bulama, Alhaji Ahmed Haruna Godowoli, Malam Sule Dauda, just to mention but a few.
I am optimistic that whenever these and other renowned personalities are recognised and come together as a committee, surely they will give direction to the state in achieving greatness.
Few among the policies and plans which they may suggest may include the introduction of medical and paramedical courses at the federal university GASHUA and the establishment of the National Renal Centre in GASHUA to overcome the rampant cases of kidney disease in the host community.
There is also a need to establish an affiliate centre of the National Teachers Institute, for the offering of degree programmes under the distance learning system and establishment of additional Centres of National Open University in the two senatorial zones where there is none: Zone B and C. Bauchi state has three centres in Bauchi, Azare and Bogoro.
Also, it is imperative to upgrade Federal Medical Centre Nguru to a Federal Teaching Hospital so that the medical students of federal university GASHUA may have their medical practicals.
It is also essential to inaugurate Police Training School Fika which have proposed for a long and ensure the proposed Federal Orthopedic Hospital Buniyadi comes into reality.
Stakeholders may write and solicit for the reduction of JAMB aggregate scored point down to 120 against 160 for Yobe, Borno and Adamawa indigenes due to interrupted and poor quality of education caused by Boko Haram, advocate for a standard International Border in Yusufari LG so that there shall be easy entry and exit of goods under the checking of custom officers and security agencies to and fro Niger republic.
Also, additional Colleges of nurses and midwiferies may be established to accommodate our children who wish to acquire such relevant certificates.
The forum may serve as an advisory body to the government of the state and ensure Yobe indigenes get appropriate placement in the federal civil service.
Hamidu Isa Babi writes from Damaturu, Yobe state.
This write-up is obviously in the right direction, bearing in mind the current socio-economic standard of Yobe State. However, no matter the daunting problems of any society, the community is always endowed with both human and available material resources with which to overcome and even set the stage for planned progress of growth and development. Contemporary history of so many socities and nation states are testimony. Given the political will, required sacrifice and dedication from those that deserve to give from where they have received more, the task for chatting the way capable of changing the fortunes of Yobe State, and living standard of indigenes can not be far fetched. Yobe is endowed with hardworking population, abundant natural resources, and an enabling environment to kick-start a planned strategy for sustainable development, from its present poor state. This is despite the reality of the overwhelming challenges we are all aware of, for as long as the Government can muster the political courage of creating conducive environment for achievement, the understanding for call to duty, and offering the necessary sacrifices by the indigenous “elites”. Hamidu there can be no any better time for your submission than now. May Allah SWT afford all concerned with the right disposition, and reward you with the good you deserve.
Dr. Munubiyya S. Jibril