You can change the world, Kwara State Education Commisioner tells Northern Exchange students

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The Honourable Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, told exchange students from the Northern States that they can change the world.

She made the statement during an official visit to the Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin.

The school was established in 1956, by the Northern Regional Government of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, as the girls secondary school for the North.

On her entourage were the Permanant secretary of the ministry, Mrs Mary Kemi Adeosun, and the Director of School Services, Mr Aderemi Oyunranti.

The officials of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development inspected the projects that were given back to the school, by the old girls of the vintage school. The principal of the senior secondary school, Mrs Sidikat Taiye Lawal, explained that different sets of the ‘old girls’ adopted the different projects. For instance, the 1981 set, adopted the dinning hall; the chemistry laboratory by the 1990 set; the 1984 set are currently renovating the school clinic; and also one of the hostels, called Hadijatu House; which is presently undergoing a 40million naira worth renovation, facilitated by one of the old girls of the 1984 set.

Other contributions of the old girls, include five solar lights and a bloc of classrooms.

The management of the school thanked Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, for the government’s intervention on the road network; the partial renovation of the school chapel; and the hostel roof, that was fixed after the rainstorm, in 2020.

Hajiya Modibbo Kawu also met with the Exchange students of the school. For years, Northern Nigeria has had the exchange program amongst the northern states; a conscious plan to promote unity, and strengthen the relationship amongst the Northern States.

She expressed delight that it has been sustained for decades. The Kwara State School for Special Needs, and the Government Secondary School, Ilorin, also run the exchange program.

The program works by ensuring that each of the northern states sends some of its students to study, in the other 18 northern states secondary schools, designated for the exchange program; the the host state is responsible for feeding the exchange students from the 18 northern states sent to it, and also ensures that the students are transported back to their states, as soon as school closes, every term.

The exchange students from the Northern states looked happy, and they confirmed to the Commissioner, that they are well-fed. In the recently concluded meeting of principals and desk officers of exchange programs which was held in Minna, Niger State, Kwara State exchange program was adjudged the best amongst the Northern States.

Kwara State Government is the first to ensure that the exchange students are returned to their respective states, as soon as the school closes for the holiday, as well as the prompt release of monthly feeding subventions to the schools running the exchange program.

The exchange students were delighted to meet and relate with the Commissioner, who had a mother/ child chat with them.

They confirmed to the Commissioner, that they are well-fed; and they showered praises on the Kwara State Governor, Malam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, for taking care of them. Hajiya Kawu also inspected the school’s kitchen, and thanked the cooks and cleaners for their effort.

The girls gave a step by step details of their daily routine. Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu immediately directed the school management to reinstate siesta, as she noted that it was missing from their daily routine: “you don’t have to sleep, but make sure you are on your bed, head on the pillow, and rest during siesta”, she said to them.

She encouraged and empowered the students of Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin, and promised that she would continue to advocate for the girl-child.