Date: 2020-12-17

ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, ABDULRAHMAN ABDULRAZAQ, GOVERNOR OF KWARA STATE, AS ABLY REPRESENTED BY STATE COMMISSIONER FOR EDUCATION, HAJIA AHMED FATIMAH BISOLA DURING THE FIVE-DAY WORKSHOP FOR TSANGAYA TEACHERS, ORGANISED BY NATIONAL BOARD FOR ARABIC AND ISLAMIC STUDIES (NBAIS), NIGERIA, HELD ON WEDNESDAY 16TH, 2020 AT A-Z DIAMOND EVENT CENTRE, ILORIN.

COURTESIES:

. I am obliged to be at this symbolic five-day workshop for Tsangaya Teachers organized by National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies across the country.

Ladies and gentlemen, we must continue to remind ourselves that education remains the most vital foundation for the development of any society. Therefore, any society that fails to prioritize the education of its members does so at its own peril. Invariably, the success or otherwise of our education essentially revolves around the quality of teachers.

Let me use this medium to commend the initiative of the organizers of this memorable workshop and also appreciate the wisdom and focus of our forebears who contributed immensely to the education development of our country.

The State Government has been in partnership with National Board of Arabic and Islamic Studies since inception when the activities of the NBAIS were transferred to Ahmadu Bello, University, Zaria. The successive administrations in the state have been rendering necessary assistance to the Board for the smooth running of its programmes across the state.

The present administration is strategising on how to standardise the syllabus of Arabic Schools and integrate them into orthodox schemes as directed by National Council on Education. Also, we are preparing students of these schools for National Board of Arabic and Islamic Certificate Examination which is equivalent to WAEC, SSCE, NECO, etc.

In addition, the State government has provided office accommodation for the smooth running of NBAIS activities at our Education Resource Center, at Tanke.

The government has also approved the request for the renovations and refurbishments of the office for efficient and effective service delivery.

This address will not complete without commending the efforts of the eminent personalities, who have contributed to the development of NBAIS at state and National levels. Among them were: late Alhaji Salman Busery, late Alh. Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen (retired Permanent Secretary and former Commissioner for Education in the state) and the Hon. Justice Abdulkadir Orire, the first Grand Khadi of Kwara State of Shariah Court.

We also acknowledge the great efforts of our father, Alhaji AbdulLateef Adekilekun, the present Zonal Coordinator for Zone 5 that comprises Kwara, Kogi, Info and Ekiti States respectively.

I want to implore the board to review the syllabus of their programme in order to meet up with modern technology of education, among other challenges of 21st century. To our distinguished and dedicated teachers in the hall, I urge you to take full advantage of this workshop as it would help in no small measures to improve your deliveries back in the classrooms.

Once again, I thank the Almighty Allah for making today a reality. On that note, Mr Chairman, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I declare the 2020 five-day workshop for Tsangaya Teachers Open.

Thank you and God bless.