Education: Zaria Teachers honour President Tinubu, Speaker Abbas

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, have been honoured for their exceptional contributions to the advancement of education in Nigeria, particularly within Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The honours, presented as Awards of Excellence, were conferred by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Zaria Chapter, in partnership with the Local Government Education Authority and the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

The awards were given during a ceremony marking the second anniversary of Speaker Abbas in office, tagged *Iya Day*—a reference to his traditional title of *Iyan Zazzau*—held on Friday.

Expressing his appreciation, the Speaker thanked the organisers for acknowledging the pivotal role played by President Tinubu in facilitating the numerous democratic dividends currently being enjoyed in the Zaria Federal Constituency through his office. He noted that many of the developmental strides seen in the area would not have been possible without the President’s support.

Speaker Abbas also commended President Tinubu for his responsiveness in approving various developmental requests from Kaduna State, whether presented by him or by the State Governor, Senator Uba Sani. He disclosed that since 2023, the constituency had witnessed the implementation of several federal government intervention projects, with assurances of more to come.

The award on behalf of President Tinubu was received by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Hon. Ubah Maigari Ahmadu, and presented by Speaker Abbas. The Minister also used the opportunity to inform the Speaker of an upcoming initiative by his ministry to upgrade select schools to foster leadership development among students.

Among the dignitaries present at the event were the Chairman of Zaria Local Government, Engr. Jamil Ahmad Muhammad; the Chairman of SUBEB, Muhammad Mubarak; and the Executive Secretary of the Zaria Local Education Authority, Dr Hassana Muhammad. In their respective remarks, they acknowledged the Speaker’s immense support for the growth of education in Zaria.

They highlighted Speaker Abbas’s notable commitment to teacher welfare and empowerment, as well as the renovation and construction of over 116 primary schools—an effort they said had significantly improved learning environments across the constituency.

The Speaker also pledged to establish a special fund to support teachers aspiring to further their education.

“I remember when I was a teacher. It took courage to balance teaching and studying. I was fortunate to take advantage of the institutions we had in Zaria to further my education,” he said. “Because of that, I intend to create a fund that will assist teachers who wish to advance their education but lack the means.”

As part of efforts to ease mobility for school heads, the Speaker had earlier distributed 116 motorcycles to Head Teachers, with an additional 500 set to be distributed to classroom teachers the following day.

Also noted was the disbursement of scholarship grants ranging from ₦200,000 to ₦800,000 to hundreds of students in tertiary institutions, payment of WAEC/NECO fees, and sponsorship of over 3,000 students for JAMB examinations in 2024 and 2025.

Visibly moved by the show of appreciation from the teaching community, Speaker Abbas reaffirmed his unwavering passion for education and the teaching profession, which, he said, laid the foundation for his personal and professional development.

“I am genuinely touched by your gesture, which I understand was voluntary. I do not seek recognition for what I do. Everything I do stems from a deep love for education and the teaching profession, which made me who I am today. There is no political motivation whatsoever,” he emphasised.

Reflecting on the past, Speaker Abbas recalled the difficulties teachers faced meeting family obligations due to low salaries and said he empathised deeply with their current struggles, particularly in light of today’s global economic challenges.

On the revival of extracurricular activities, he announced plans to establish a modern sports centre in Zaria to nurture local talent and reinvigorate youth engagement in sports.

“For over three decades, sporting activities have been neglected, which is why our athletes are no longer gaining national and international recognition. It’s time we saw new Muhammadu Alis, Nwankwo Kanus, Atanda Musas, and Ahmed Musas emerging from Zaria,” he said.

He also advocated for the return of inter-house sports competitions across primary and secondary schools, as well as academic quiz contests, which he said had once produced some of the brightest young minds during his early years in public office.

Furthermore, the Speaker called for the reintroduction of the Boys Scouts and Girls Guides in schools, lamenting the decline of such youth-focused initiatives across the country, despite their significant role in instilling discipline and leadership.

Speaker Abbas concluded by reiterating his commitment to supporting education and youth development initiatives that would shape the future of Zaria and Nigeria at large.