By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

A Second Republic Commissioner for Education in Kaduna State, Tom Maiyashi, has proposed the establishment of an Education Hall of Fame to preserve the northern Nigeria’s educational history, recognise outstanding educators and restore professional standards in the sector.

Maiyashi, who is also Chairman of the Garkuwa Hall of Fame, made the proposal during a recent courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB), Mubarak Muhammad.

He said the initiative would provide a platform for documenting the achievements of past education leaders, celebrating exceptional teachers and establishing a resource centre to strengthen professional competence in the education sector.

He lamented that much of Northern Nigeria’s educational history and institutional memory had been lost, forcing successive generations to start afresh without adequately studying the achievements and experiences of their predecessors.

Recalling his contributions to education development, Maiyashi said he initiated the Northern Education Research Project (NERP) in 2000 under the chairmanship of Professor Adamu Baike, with support from the MacArthur Foundation.

He said the 10-year project brought together governors of northern states, traditional rulers and education stakeholders at annual summits to examine challenges confronting education in the region and document possible solutions.

He also recalled his involvement in the development of the Universal Basic Education programme and the establishment of Support to Africa’s Functional Education (SAFE), which expanded from about 20 to 30 schools to 800 schools across several states through partnerships with development agencies.

Maiyashi stressed the need to establish clear benchmarks for professionalism, competence and leadership in school management, while promoting mentorship between experienced educators and younger professionals.

He also advocated well-equipped libraries, teacher-training institutions and education resource centres to support professional development.

Responding, Muhammad welcomed the proposal and called for stronger partnerships between government, philanthropists and private organisations to improve public schools.

He said KADSUBEB was open to individuals and organisations willing to support schools through infrastructure development, digital equipment and other interventions that would enhance teaching and learning.

Muhammad cited a partnership involving the Kaduna State Government, Fifth Chukker and Access Bank, which resulted in the development of a school equipped with internet facilities, computers, arts and crafts facilities and extracurricular programmes.

He said the partnership had created opportunities for disadvantaged pupils, including educational excursions to London and professional swimming lessons, with some of the children subsequently winning competitions.

The SUBEB chairman, however, identified inadequate funding and the scale of infrastructure deficits as major challenges confronting basic education in the state.

According to him, more than 80 per cent of Kaduna’s over 4,300 primary schools were inherited in dilapidated conditions, requiring renovation, new classrooms, furniture, toilets, boreholes and security fencing.

He disclosed that providing furniture alone for schools across the state would cost approximately N43 billion, while KADSUBEB’s annual budget was less than N20 billion.

On efforts to address the out-of-school children challenge, Muhammad said the state had reduced the number from an inherited figure of about 500,000 to 187,000 following a mapping exercise concluded in September.

He explained that the figure excluded Birnin Gwari Local Government Area because security challenges prevented access to some communities during the exercise.

Muhammad also disclosed that over 8,000 School-Based Management Committee members had been trained to strengthen community participation and resource mobilisation for schools.

He said the board introduced a Best Teacher Award to recognise outstanding primary school teachers, with 23 teachers, one from each local government area, honoured during its inaugural edition last year.

He added that the programme was being expanded in 2026 to cover senior secondary school teachers, outstanding students in WAEC, NECO and Basic Education Certificate examinations, as well as teachers in private schools.

Muhammad said the expansion was intended to promote excellence across the education system, adding that the Governor was expected to personally present the awards.

He acknowledged Maiyashi’s concerns about declining educational standards and reading culture, noting that restoring past achievements would require sustained investment, commitment and adaptation to changing teaching and learning needs.

He said the board recognised that today’s children were growing up in a digital environment and that teaching methods must evolve to meet the demands of the new generation.