By Rabiu Sanusi
The Provost of Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Dr Kabir Ahmad Gwarzo, has pledged his support for the re-election bids of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf following his appointment as Deputy Director III for the presidential and gubernatorial election campaigns.
Dr Gwarzo described the appointment as a privilege and an opportunity to contribute to the political ambitions of the two leaders, expressing confidence that the administration’s achievements, particularly in education, would strengthen public support for their bids for another term in office.
Speaking on his new responsibility, the provost said he was delighted to have been selected from among many qualified individuals to contribute to the campaign.
He added that he would work towards mobilising eligible voters and encouraging greater participation in the democratic process.
He disclosed that Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education had established a voter registration centre that recorded more than 3,500 registrations as part of efforts to encourage students, academic and non-academic staff, and members of the surrounding community to participate actively in elections.
According to him, the initiative reflects the college’s commitment to civic responsibility and its belief that voter participation is essential to democratic development.
Dr Gwarzo attributed his support for Governor Yusuf to what he described as the administration’s significant interventions across various sectors, particularly education, where he said improvements in infrastructure, staff welfare, and institutional development had made a positive impact.
As a key stakeholder in the state’s tertiary education sector, the provost said he had witnessed the administration’s interventions in universities and colleges of education, including funding for accreditation exercises, infrastructure projects, salary-related approvals, and other measures aimed at improving institutional performance.
He particularly cited developments at Ghari College of Education, where he said improvements in student accommodation, classrooms, and essential facilities had transformed the learning environment.
Turning to Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Dr Gwarzo recalled that the institution faced serious financial and infrastructural challenges when he assumed leadership, particularly in meeting accreditation requirements, alongside problems with electricity and water supply.
He said the college had approached Governor Yusuf for assistance with accreditation funding and that the governor approved the requested support, enabling the institution to achieve a 100 per cent accreditation result.
The provost described the achievement as a historic milestone for the college, noting that the successful outcome had strengthened its academic standing and demonstrated the importance of government support for educational institutions.
He also recalled that Governor Yusuf personally visited the college around the Maghrib period to assess its challenges. Following discussions with the college management, the governor directed the provision of a transformer to address the institution’s electricity problems.
Dr Gwarzo said the transformer was subsequently installed and that the governor also inspected the facility to ascertain its functionality.
He described the intervention as evidence of the administration’s responsiveness to the needs of educational institutions.
On workers’ welfare, the provost commended the regular payment of salaries under the Yusuf administration, noting that staff generally received their salaries before the end of each month, often by the 25th.
He said timely salary payments had contributed to staff morale and demonstrated the government’s concern for workers’ welfare, adding that improved working conditions were essential to effective service delivery in the education sector.
Dr Gwarzo further highlighted the administration’s support for state-owned universities, particularly in infrastructure development, accreditation funding, salary-related matters, and other institutional needs.
Beyond the government’s interventions, he expressed satisfaction with Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education’s growing role in professional development and agricultural education.
He disclosed that the college had recently hosted a training workshop organised in collaboration with the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), bringing together approximately 105 participants from private, federal, and state colleges of education.
The workshop featured technical presentations and practical learning activities, including visits to agricultural sites in Kadawa and Nambata, where participants observed agricultural practices and gained practical knowledge.
According to the provost, the programme provided an opportunity to strengthen professional collaboration among colleges of education while showcasing Kano State’s agricultural potential.
On his new campaign assignment, Dr Gwarzo expressed confidence in his ability to contribute to voter mobilisation, particularly among students, lecturers, and other members of the tertiary education community.
He said the campaign would adopt appropriate strategies to encourage voter participation, while noting that some operational plans would be handled internally rather than publicly disclosed.
The provost reaffirmed his appreciation to Governor Yusuf for the appointment, describing the administration’s interventions in education as a major reason for his support.
He maintained that sustained investment in educational infrastructure, staff welfare, and institutional development remained essential to Kano State’s progress, expressing his readiness to contribute to the campaign as political activities ahead of the forthcoming elections gather momentum.