, Alhaji Ahmadu Zumaru, has unveiled plans to overhaul the education){kind=link}
By Abdullahi Inuwa
The Kebbi State governorship candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Alhaji Ahmadu Zumaru, has unveiled plans to overhaul the education sector, revitalise rural communities and strengthen agriculture as part of his proposed strategy to tackle insecurity in the state.
Zumaru made the pledge in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday, October 11, 2026, during a Candidates Engagement Forum organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kebbi State Council.
The forum provided a platform for governorship candidates to present their policy proposals and programmes to the electorate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDP candidate said his ambition was driven by the need to provide people-oriented leadership, address corruption and develop practical solutions to the challenges confronting Kebbi State.
He identified education, security, agriculture, rural development and judicial reforms as key areas his proposed administration would prioritise if elected governor.
Insecurity: Rural Education Gets Priority
On education, Zumaru expressed concern over the impact of insecurity on children in rural communities, particularly in areas where school closures have disrupted learning.
He pledged to assess the number of pupils and students affected by insecurity in remote communities and introduce alternative learning arrangements to prevent children from being denied access to education while efforts to restore peace and security continued.
According to him, protecting children’s right to education would remain a priority, regardless of the security challenges facing their communities.
The candidate also promised to introduce digital learning opportunities to expand access to education, especially in underserved areas.
He proposed policies to attract highly qualified professionals, including PhD holders, into primary school teaching, while pledging to improve teachers’ welfare to discourage professionals from abandoning the classroom.
Zumaru further promised to establish an education trust fund committee to examine the sector’s challenges and recommend practical measures for improving standards and learning outcomes across the state.
Targets 75% Female Teachers
The NDP candidate also proposed increasing the proportion of female teachers in Kebbi State to 75 per cent.
He argued that women play an important role in children’s early development and education, adding that greater female representation in the teaching profession could help strengthen the foundation of learning.
Beyond education, Zumaru pledged to introduce policies aimed at protecting women’s political, economic, social and religious rights.
He said his proposed administration would promote women’s participation in public life while implementing measures to improve their welfare and opportunities.
Plans Joint Rural Development Programme
On rural development, Zumaru proposed a joint funding arrangement involving the state and local governments to accelerate development across communities.
Under the proposed framework, local governments would contribute 20 per cent of the funding for rural development projects, alongside contributions from the state government.
He said the arrangement would promote more balanced development across local government areas and help address disparities between urban centres and rural communities.
According to the candidate, improving infrastructure and access to essential services in rural areas would also help discourage rural-urban migration.
He maintained that communities outside major towns should receive adequate attention in government development plans, particularly in areas where limited opportunities and poor infrastructure affect residents’ livelihoods.
Faults Late Distribution of Fertiliser
Turning to agriculture, Zumaru criticised the untimely distribution of fertiliser to farmers, arguing that delays in providing farm inputs could undermine productivity.
He said agricultural support programmes should be implemented in line with the farming calendar to ensure farmers receive essential inputs when they need them most.
The candidate described Kebbi farmers as hardworking but said they required better government support to achieve their full production potential.
He pledged to prioritise policies that would improve access to agricultural inputs and strengthen support for farmers as part of broader efforts to revitalise the state’s rural economy.
Agriculture remains a major part of Kebbi’s economy, making timely access to farm inputs and effective support for rural communities important issues in discussions about the state’s development.
Promises Wider Institutional Reforms
Beyond education, rural development and agriculture, Zumaru identified security and the judiciary as additional sectors requiring reforms.
He said his proposed administration would pursue measures aimed at addressing corruption and improving governance, although detailed implementation plans for the proposed security and judicial reforms were not outlined in the statement.
The NDP candidate’s proposals formed part of his broader vision for Kebbi ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The engagement forum offered an opportunity for the candidate to communicate his priorities to journalists and the electorate, as political parties and aspirants prepare to present their programmes to voters.
Whether the proposals can be translated into measurable improvements will depend on their eventual implementation, funding arrangements and the policies adopted if he secures the mandate to govern the state.
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