The wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Hajia Aisha Buhari, at the
Adamawa State Indigenes Town Hall meeting on Saturday in Yola, the
state capital, expressed disappointed over decline in school enrolment
in Adamawa State.
The First Lady of Nigeria, an indigene of Adamawa State, raised alarm
that the low school enrolment is alarming, noting that the trend
spells a gloomy future for the state.
Aisha Buhari was said to have recalled that 40 years ago, the defunct
Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba states) was a beautiful and
peaceful state with relatively good infrastructure, well established
civil service as well as educational and health institutions.
The First Lady advocated that the state needs coalition of like-minded
people to return to its glorious past by addressing the challenges of
insecurity, inter-ethnic conflicts, the annual flood and influx of
internally displaced persons.
The President’s wife emphasized the need for establishment of Adamawa
Development Trust Fund through which prioritised development projects
would be financed and implemented.
Governor Muhammadu Bindow acknowledged that the meeting came at the
right time when Adamawa concerned citizens were looking forward to a
sustainable socio-economic growth of the state.
Bindow, represented by the Deputy Governor, Martins Babale, called on
the incoming administration to continue with the meaningful
developmental projects in the interest of the state.
The governor enjoined the incoming administration to also continue and
develop the culture of tolerance among majority of the people.
Dr. Halliru Bindir, Secretary to the State Government, admitted that
75 per cent of the people in the state are living below poverty line.
Bindir expressed the need for gigantic empowerment approach and
programmes to reduce the poverty level of majority of the people of
the state.