In Sokoto, it will soon be criminal to deny children education

Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, ha revealed that there is a bill before the Sokoto state house of assembly which, if passed, will make it a criminal offence for ‎parents to refuse their children education.

According to Imam Imam, spokesman of the governor, the “radical and revolutionary” move is aimed at boosting school enrolment and providing quality education to every child as required by local and international laws.

He said that as part of measures to enhance implementation of the new policy, government will build and equip 240 primary and tertiary healthcare centres in the three senatorial zones of the state.

Making this known Monday while addressing religious, traditional and political leaders from 11 local government areas of the state who paid him a sallah visit in Sokoto, Tambuwal said the policy beame necessary in view of the high percentage of parents deliberately frustrating government efforts to educate children.

“The state government has already made adequate arrangement to cater to the educational needs of its citizens, and anyone caught flouting the new regulation will not be spared,” Tambuwal said.

“The founders of Sokoto Caliphate made their marks in areas education and scholarship, as such, there’s no excuse if their successors fail to provide at least basic education to the future generation. If the state gets its education priorities right, many ills of the society will be taken care of.”

While appealing to his visitors to suppo‎rt the new initiative, Tambuwal said vocational training centres and employment opportunities will be created to assist youths and other vulnerable members of the society.