Why FCOE Should Be in Toro

Iread a report by national newspaper that the federal government has approved the establishment of six colleges of Education in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Interestingly, the one for the Northeast has been granted to Bauchi State. That’s a wonderful news but the agitation will not be over if necessary attention is not given to the area of the state which has all that it takes to house the institution and has no similar establishment in it.

First, Bauchi State has several federal and state tertiary institutions which are situated in various parts of the state. Starting from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) which has its main and first campus situated in Bauchi Local Government in Bauchi South Senatorial District and its permanent site currently situated in Ganjuwa Local Government of Bauchi Central Senatorial District. Another institution is College of Education Azare which is situated in Azare in Bauchi North Senatorial District.

The main campus of Bauchi State University is situated in Itas-Gadau Local Government, a stone throw from Azare in Bauchi North. Misau Local Government of Bauchi Central has the state’s school for legal studies and is in addition housing the faculty of law of the Bauchi State University. I won’t forget the fact that the Bauchi State School of Nursing and Midwifery is in Ningi Local Government in Bauchi Central. Recently, the Nigerian Air Force University has been established in Tafawa Balewa Local Government of Bauchi South, thanks to Chief of Air Staff Siddique and Yakubu Dogara, if I may guess! Recently, a friend told me about a graduation he attended in the training school of DSS in Bauchi Local Government of Bauchi South. Lest I forget, the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital is also situated in Bauchi.

Now, here is a trumpet which has been under-blown: Toro Local Government has been acclaimed to be one of the largest local governments in Nigeria in terms of landmass, arable land for crops and pastoral farming and a huge population of about half a million as at 2006 census. It is a very peaceful local government that has never in recent history recorded any civil unrest despite having a very mixed society, with people of different tribes and faith. Toro has Hausa, Fulani, Ribina, Jarawa, Kanuri and other tribes of Nigeria who have been living in peace and harmony for decades if not centuries.

May I also add at this juncture that Toro has some of the most talented away from the local Bauchians who have government because served Nigeria in various they help their parents capacities in all sectors of with farming which is the economy and is now the main business of our one of the local governments people. with Bauchians It will be a great loss if who are determined to the federal government study despite all challenges neglects our farming and neglect. population at this time

Toro shares bother when the country is with Jos in the North yearning for food sufficiency. central, Kaduna around Saminaka axis and Fortunately, the senator by little stretch, with representing Bauchi Kano, around Doguwa South is Senator Lawal Local Government Yahaya Gumau, a Toro which makes it readily Local Government son; accessible to Nigerians of and we are also represented other geopolitical zones. by young Hon.

It’s the main gateway Umar Muda Lawan in to the Northeast of the the House of Representatives. country which has not I wish to call on a single federal government both of you to please institution, whether ensure that the new educational or otherwise, FCOE is situated in Toro beyond one or two police Local Government. stations. –– Hussaini Hussaini,

Toro has been a local Abuja. government with the highest votes for APC and Buhari in all the elections of 2015 and 2019. In fact, Toro has been faithful to Buhari since 2003 with our sweat if not blood. Politics is about give and take; rub my back and I rub yours! Dear President Buhari, one good turn deserves another sir. Hence, not siting the said FCOE in Toro will be a great injustice.

It pains me whenever I visit home and see my intelligent secondary school classmates admiring me and regretting the fact that their parents couldn’t afford to send them to institutions far