By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has advocated for a revival of Northern educational heritage as he pushes for special chools to Tackle the Menace of Out-of-School Children in the region.
He made the call Friday evening when General Alwali Jauji Kazir (rtd) led leadership of the Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA) on a courtesy visit to Government House, Gombe, as part of activities marking the Association’s 2026 Biennial Lecture and Awards Ceremony holding in Gombe.
Proposing the establishment of special schools, modelled after the historic Barewa College, Governor Inuwa believes it is among other efforts that could help in addressing the challenges of out-of-school children and strengthen the educational foundation of Northern Nigeria.
He described the focus of the Biennial Lecture on out-of-school children and national security as timely, particularly in view of the educational challenges confronting Northern Nigeria.
According to him, “the challenge of out-of-school children must be addressed within the context of food and social security, cultural values, economic opportunities and the overall wellbeing of the people”.
He said Gombe continues to accommodate students from different parts of the country, reflecting its tradition of hospitality and inclusion stressing, “BOBA can design a framework for establishing Barewa extensions in all the States of the North, with similar institutions sharing the philosophy of Barewa College”.
The BOBA President, General Alwali Jauji Kazir (rtd), had earlier commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his remarkable strides in education, healthcare, infrastructure and human capital development and expressed the Association’s appreciation for the opportunity to hold its 2026 Biennial Lecture and Awards Ceremony in Gombe. “The choice of Gombe was deliberate, given its strategic position in the Northeast and the relevance of its development experience to this year’s theme”, he noted.
“Your administration’s developmental roadmap is highly commendable. You have deployed a clear strategic vision in revitalising the educational sector, expanding healthcare infrastructure and executing robust public works that have fundamentally modernised Gombe State,” he said.
The former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido; Emeritus Professor Idris Mohammed and other eminent personalities from across the country were part of the BOBA President’s delegation.
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