No Northern State Has 50% Qualified Teachers – Babangida Aliyu

• Former Niger State Governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu revealed that no Northern Nigerian state has 50% qualified teachers
• Aliyu emphasized the urgent need for educational reforms and collaboration between agricultural and educational universities to address teaching challenges

Former Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has revealed that no state in Northern Nigeria has up to 50% of qualified teachers.

Aliyu made the statement at the 22nd Daily Trust Dialogue held on Thursday at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja. Themed “Food Security: Availability or Affordability,” the event brought together stakeholders to address pressing national issues.

The former governor also criticized the effectiveness of border closures, questioning their impact while highlighting that goods from Nigeria continue to flow into other ECOWAS nations despite the restrictions.

Aliyu pointed out the disconnect between border policies and market realities, saying:

What is the importance of closing borders? While Nigeria’s population is almost equal to that of other ECOWAS members combined, you’ll find that more than half of the items in markets across ECOWAS countries are from Nigeria. For instance, cows are cheaper in Niger than in Nigeria, even during Sallah periods or for regular slaughter. This has always been the case, even before inflation.

On education, Aliyu emphasized the urgent need for reforms, especially in the North, where he lamented the lack of qualified teachers.

He called for collaboration between federal universities specializing in agriculture and education to train farmers and educators:

In the northern states, there is no state with 50% qualified teachers. Even among those currently in school, the quality of education is questionable. We need to leverage universities of agriculture and education to develop individuals passionate about specific fields.

Aliyu stressed that education is vital for addressing systemic challenges, adding that equipping people with knowledge and skills will create a more capable workforce and help solve long-term developmental issues.