Date: 2011-05-25

Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki  has signed into law the State Arabic and Islamic Education Board bill 2011, which now gives legal backing to the establishment and running of Arabic Institutes in the State.

With the passage of the bill, it will among others, control, regulate and manage Arabic and Islamic education throughout the State.

Speaking at the signing ceremony which attracted eminent Islamic scholars in the State, Governor Saraki explained that the law would open a new chapter to further strengthen Arabic education, describing it as an important component which had contributed significantly to the education sector.

The Arabic and Islamic law, he said, will ensure smooth integration between Arabic and Western education system, adding that there were guidelines and minimum standard now to be followed in the establishment of new Arabic institutes in the State.

Dr Saraki urged proprietors of Arabic and Islamic Institutes as well as notable Islamic scholars in the State to ensure that the new guidelines were strictly followed to enhance compliance and optimum standardization.

While expressing appreciation to members of the State House of Assembly for the quick passage of the bill, Dr Saraki also thanked all the relevant stakeholders for their cooperation as well.

Earlier, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Babatunde Mohammed had noted that the Arabic Education Board bill recently passed by the House was to improve Arabic education in the State.

The bill, according to him, would reform Arabic education, provide guidelines for new Arabic institutes to be established and standardized the existing ones.

Alhaji Mohammed thanked the clerics for their cooperation and contributions during the public hearing of the bill and appealed to them to cooperate fully with the State government in the implementation of the law.

In his opening remark, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi disclosed that the Arabic Education law was in fulfillment of the every child counts programme of the State government earlier launched in the State in 2008, pointing out that it has nothing to do with any religious inclination.

Mas’ud Adebimpe
Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor
25/05/2011