By Abdul Ahmad Burra
I was in primary three when Malam Yakubu Zakari Yakubu became our Form Master and teacher of all subjects. At that time myself and my classmates could only sing ABCD and other songs but within three months, we learnt what we couldn’t learn in three years. We learnt all the alphabets and their usage.
Within three month I could read and write. He used extraordinary teaching skills and disciplinary measures to ensure we learnt all the subjects.
Upon discovering my quick understanding of his teachings, Malam Yakubu made me Class Monitor and his favourite pupil.
Before we finished primary three I became lover of books because I could read. Every Friday, which was market day in Burra, I would go to book vendors to read cover pages of books. I begun to ask my father to buy books for me.
Malam Yakubu was a man of principle and discipline. He spared nobody when one came late or couldn’t give back what he taught. He didn’t spared his sisters and brothers, in fact he liked us more than many of them for our performance.
Malam Yakubu is a prince being from royal family of Burra but he don’t want anybody to identify him as member of the royal family.
An inter-classes quiz was to be held when we were in primary four. Malam Yakubu knowing our performance and brilliance said primary five were not our match therefore our quiz should be against primary six.
The quiz took place between us in primary four and primary six. We beat them squarely. We answered all the questions correctly except one by Uwa Danlami, she wanted to correct the answer but the timekeeper had ring the bell already.
After the quiz, an incident happened, on our way home, primary six pupil beat me and warned me not to tell Malam Yakubu. Out of fear of the seniors I didn’t tell him.
When he later became Headmaster, Burra Central Primary School completely changed for better. His principle and zero tolerance against indiscipline were extended to the teachers. Every teacher had to come early and had to teach accordingly. He had various punishment for truant pupils and defaulting teachers.
Bauchi Assembly To Re-Introduce Teachers Colleges
Punctuality by pupils and teachers became watchwords. CPS Burra became the public school Governor El-Rufai would love to have in Kaduna today.
We were in primary five when Malam Yakubu was transferred to Ningi LGEA as administrative staff.
Though we were small kids, we knew a gold was taken away from us. We cried profusely.
We accompanied him to his house crying and singing “Malam Yakubu muna maka fatan alkhairi sai wata rana”
He built a solid foundation for many of us in Burra. Our class till today has excelled in all spheres of life. Knowing the foundation he has led and the huge investment he made in our class, Malam Yakubu had to follow us to GSS Burra and organized evening classes for us when we were in SS1.
He would travel from Ningi to Burra, a 110 kilometres journey every weekend just to have extra lesson with us his former favourite primary pupils.
Many of us admired his principle and zero tolerance against indiscipline. We tried to copy him always.
In Ningi Local Education Authority he wanted to instill discipline and ensure quality of teachers. He wanted to ensure merit and reforms in teaching in our Local Government. Many teachers disliked because of his rigidity and principles.
Whenever the names of Governor El-Rufai and Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde are mentioned and their efforts to reform education is discussed, the next person that comes to my mind is Malam Yakubu because of their resemblance in principle and great passion for transformation of education irrespective of anybody’s resistance.
Probably for losing hope in transforming education at basic level in LEA and surely for his passion to impart knowledge, Malam Yakubu left his job at LEA and take up a temporary job at Bauchi State University Gadau. He became the examination officer of his Department.
But despite his contributions and efforts, his confirmation as permanent staff of the University, even on transfer of service basis wasn’t possible. The University didn’t confirm him citing his age as the reason.
Myself and my classmates will forever remain grateful to our teacher Malam Yakubu Zakari Zakari Yakubu who discovered, nurtured and inspired many of us and all our teachers who consolidate the foundation he has laid in us. May Allah reward him for his selfless service to his community.
Happy Teachers Day!
Abdul Ahmad Burra is the spokesperson to Speaker Bauchi State House Of Assembly,he also bagged his MSC in Mass Communications from the famous Bayero University Kano.
