Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ABUJA113
2010-01-29 09:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
SOKOTO GOVERNOR GETS HIGH MARKS FOR EDUCATION EFFORTS
how-toVZCZCXRO1174 OO RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #0113/01 0290903 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O R 290903Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0101 INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0082 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0035
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000113
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SOCI NI
SUBJECT: SOKOTO GOVERNOR GETS HIGH MARKS FOR EDUCATION EFFORTS
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000113
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SOCI NI
SUBJECT: SOKOTO GOVERNOR GETS HIGH MARKS FOR EDUCATION EFFORTS
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) Media, civil society, and government representatives
generally gave high marks to Sokoto Governor Aliyu Wamakko for his
efforts to improved education, but some intended beneficiaries
voiced dissatisfaction during a mid-January visit by PolOffs to
this northern Nigerian state. Many stated that education had
improved, with the state investing in better teachers and providing
stipends for transportation and school fees. A group of students,
however, voiced concerns over what they viewed as insufficient
investment in education and lack of job opportunities after
graduation. END SUMMARY.
--------------
EDUCATION AND OTHER SUCCESSES
--------------
2. (SBU) During a mid-January meeting with PolOffs, Sokoto Governor
Wamakko listed his greatest success as running a government with "a
listening ear," which permitted him to tailor programs to meet the
needs of his constituents. He cited his greatest challenges as
limited access to resources for meet the needs of state
inhabitants, the need to foster greater social responsibility among
citizens, and inability to address the needs of villages in rural
areas. The Governor listed education, agriculture, and healthcare
as his primary areas of focus. He remarked that he wanted to leave
a "peaceful and prosperous" state as part of his political legacy.
3. (SBU) Political Affairs Permanent Secretary Salihu Muhammad
Gatawa separately echoed the Governor's assertion that the state's
greatest challenge involved meeting the needs and aspirations of
its citizens. Gatawa claimed the administration had improved the
quality of education in Sokoto, noting that students not only
enjoyed access to free education but that the state had hired more
qualified teachers and provided resources required by schools.
4. (SBU) Similarly, three representatives of the Sokoto Branch of
the Federal Organization of Muslim Women's Associations of Nigeria
(FOMWAN) agreed that the state government provided adequate support
to education. They cited government improvements in higher
education, including provision of stipends to students for
transportation and school fees. They insisted that students had
adequate opportunities for employment after graduating from
secondary school, particularly in the health care sector.
--------------
BENEFICIARIES PROVIDE DISSENTING VOICE
--------------
5. (SBU) In contrast, students at a round table sponsored by the
American Corner voiced dissatisfaction with the educational system,
asserting that "it costs too much." Students expressed the desire
for "quality" education, as opposed to the "mass" education which
they said the state currently provides. They called for greater
development and openly wondered why Nigeria, "with all its oil
money," did not experience development similar to other African
countries with access to less revenue.
ABUJA 00000113 002 OF 002
6. (SBU) One student, who studied previously in the United States,
suggested provision of additional resources for science and
technology, including computer labs and updated science books.
Students complained that insufficient job opportunities existed for
students after graduation. One student questioned the value of
getting a good education when "one can be corrupt in Nigeria and
succeed."
--------------
POLITICAL PERCEPTIONS
--------------
7. (SBU) Journalist Abu Shekara, who also serves as General Manager
of the state-owned weekly newspaper "The Path," praised former
Governor Bafarawa and current Governor Wamakko for their efforts to
develop the state, noting that the former focused on developing
infrastructure, while the latter invested more in social programs.
Shekara voiced support for the incumbent's re-election to allow him
to finish his longer-duration projects. He discounted the
perceived strength of opposition parties in the state. The
opposition Democratic People's Party (DPP),he argued, appeared
stronger in the media than its actual status. Shekara remarked
that politicians running in the 2011 elections would not yet
actively seek leadership positions. He explained that they would
wait to be asked three times because of the Islamic concept that a
person who seeks a position of power is not meant to be a leader.
SANDERS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SOCI NI
SUBJECT: SOKOTO GOVERNOR GETS HIGH MARKS FOR EDUCATION EFFORTS
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) Media, civil society, and government representatives
generally gave high marks to Sokoto Governor Aliyu Wamakko for his
efforts to improved education, but some intended beneficiaries
voiced dissatisfaction during a mid-January visit by PolOffs to
this northern Nigerian state. Many stated that education had
improved, with the state investing in better teachers and providing
stipends for transportation and school fees. A group of students,
however, voiced concerns over what they viewed as insufficient
investment in education and lack of job opportunities after
graduation. END SUMMARY.
--------------
EDUCATION AND OTHER SUCCESSES
--------------
2. (SBU) During a mid-January meeting with PolOffs, Sokoto Governor
Wamakko listed his greatest success as running a government with "a
listening ear," which permitted him to tailor programs to meet the
needs of his constituents. He cited his greatest challenges as
limited access to resources for meet the needs of state
inhabitants, the need to foster greater social responsibility among
citizens, and inability to address the needs of villages in rural
areas. The Governor listed education, agriculture, and healthcare
as his primary areas of focus. He remarked that he wanted to leave
a "peaceful and prosperous" state as part of his political legacy.
3. (SBU) Political Affairs Permanent Secretary Salihu Muhammad
Gatawa separately echoed the Governor's assertion that the state's
greatest challenge involved meeting the needs and aspirations of
its citizens. Gatawa claimed the administration had improved the
quality of education in Sokoto, noting that students not only
enjoyed access to free education but that the state had hired more
qualified teachers and provided resources required by schools.
4. (SBU) Similarly, three representatives of the Sokoto Branch of
the Federal Organization of Muslim Women's Associations of Nigeria
(FOMWAN) agreed that the state government provided adequate support
to education. They cited government improvements in higher
education, including provision of stipends to students for
transportation and school fees. They insisted that students had
adequate opportunities for employment after graduating from
secondary school, particularly in the health care sector.
--------------
BENEFICIARIES PROVIDE DISSENTING VOICE
--------------
5. (SBU) In contrast, students at a round table sponsored by the
American Corner voiced dissatisfaction with the educational system,
asserting that "it costs too much." Students expressed the desire
for "quality" education, as opposed to the "mass" education which
they said the state currently provides. They called for greater
development and openly wondered why Nigeria, "with all its oil
money," did not experience development similar to other African
countries with access to less revenue.
ABUJA 00000113 002 OF 002
6. (SBU) One student, who studied previously in the United States,
suggested provision of additional resources for science and
technology, including computer labs and updated science books.
Students complained that insufficient job opportunities existed for
students after graduation. One student questioned the value of
getting a good education when "one can be corrupt in Nigeria and
succeed."
--------------
POLITICAL PERCEPTIONS
--------------
7. (SBU) Journalist Abu Shekara, who also serves as General Manager
of the state-owned weekly newspaper "The Path," praised former
Governor Bafarawa and current Governor Wamakko for their efforts to
develop the state, noting that the former focused on developing
infrastructure, while the latter invested more in social programs.
Shekara voiced support for the incumbent's re-election to allow him
to finish his longer-duration projects. He discounted the
perceived strength of opposition parties in the state. The
opposition Democratic People's Party (DPP),he argued, appeared
stronger in the media than its actual status. Shekara remarked
that politicians running in the 2011 elections would not yet
actively seek leadership positions. He explained that they would
wait to be asked three times because of the Islamic concept that a
person who seeks a position of power is not meant to be a leader.
SANDERS