Ex-NNPC Director donates school, borehole to Jauro Wabi village
A Philanthropist has constructed a block of three classrooms, staff quarters and a solar powered borehole to Jauro Wabi village of Akko Local Government Area of Gombe state.
Speaking at the commissioning yesterday, Engineer Saidu Aliyu, a former Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said he constructed the primary school and donated it to the community to enable children in the village acquire modern education.
He said the courage to embark on the project was borne out of his desire to transform the village and ameliorate their several challenges ranging from healthcare, agriculture and water supply among others.
According to him, the project was initiated after he visited a relative who requested him to repair her leaking roof when he observed the critical condition of the community.
North East Trust philanthropist has
learnt that the also constructed two units of two bedrooms each as staff quarters for school teachers, a mosque, solar powered borehole and palace for the village head.
“The aim of the project is to get the village children out of the street where they are roaming about. We have started with a primary school and we plan to go further and touch other areas ranging from healthcare, agriculture and access road.
“Even though we cannot replace government but we need to contribute the little we have to transform the lives of these people to stop their children from moving about in the streets or sitting idle in their homes,” he said.
Engineer Aliyu also called on others to do something beyond what he has done in other locations across the state to complement government’s effort, towards improving lives of the rural dwellers.
Our correspondent observed that the community with a population of over 200 people and predominantly farmers have no access road, school, healthcare centre, electricity supply and other basic amenities.
It was also gathered that before the construction of the borehole by the philanthropist, residents of the village relied on a nearby pond to get water for their domestic usage.
In a remark, Education Secretary of Akko LGA, Baba Muhammad Bula, said they have enrolled over 400 pupils from Jauro Wabi and about three neighbouring villages since commencement of academic activities at the school.
He added that three teachers and a headmaster were posted to the school, which he, however, said are inadequate because of the high number of pupils. He also appealed to the state government to provide additional classrooms and posted more teachers for effective teaching and learning to take place.
In his speech, the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Habu Dahiru, pledged that the administration would construct more classes before the commencement of next academic session.
He also called on parents to ensure that all pupils enrolled are kept in school till completion of their primary education.