In 2016, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) discovered Shara, a remote community under Matigwai in Sumaila local government area of Kano state. At that time parents in the community wanted sending their children to primary school but the options before them were all tough ones.
The closest primary school on the east of the remote community was located at Sitti and it is 7 kilometers away, on the south is Matigwai which is 5 kilometers away, and on the west the nearest primary school is in Rayan Masaka, 8 kilometers away. The shortest distance for pupils in Shara to go and acquire primary education is Matigwai which is 5km away, and a stream has to be crossed to get there as well. The hope of getting pupils educated in that community was gloomy for most parents despite their dreams of someday seeing their children become doctors, lawyers, pilots, etc. As is the case in many rural communities, primary schools are located not far from where people live so children can trek to and from the school.
When CITAD first discovered Shara lessons were being taken tree and to support dreams of the parents and pupils it provided materials such as uniforms, chalks, board, books, school bags, pens, etc and kept the community members under guidance and counseling, beyond that CITAD launched a strategic advocacy which engaged stakeholders at all levels continuously and maintained contact and monitoring of the community.
Five years after the advocacy to transform under-tree primary school to a furnished classroom began, CITAD and people are happy that children of a remote community can now take lessons in classes, and rain and harmattan seasons can no longer be barrier to pupils learning.
