By Abba Anwar
I deliberately coined Barauism as a concept being inspired by values and principles of the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, suggesting his philosophy, movement and ideology for hastening the process of development in Kano, other parts of Northern Nigeria and the nation by extension.
Let me start by congratulating, not DSP Barau for now, but the process for the selection of his scholarship beneficiaries, numbering 70. Out of this number, 65 are males, while the remaining 5 are females.
Due diligence, merit, clear vision and above all, independence of the process and procedures, from start to finish, were the bedrock of the political will, which brought the successful candidates into limelight.
The first time, to my knowledge, in Northern Nigeria, probably the South also, except in rare case(s) if that existed, when an individual political office holder and/or elected representative, provided similar scholarship for the study of these carefully selected courses, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Robotic Science for such number of students. At a go. I stand to be corrected.
These are areas that shape our world today. Making those selected to be global citizens who, after finishing their programmes would come and hasten the process of development in Kano and the nation in general.
The first time in Kano recent history, when such number of students were sent abroad to study 21st Century programmes, at a go. I mean all courses of study for the entire 70 beneficiaries are 21st Century fields. Not even a government, talkless of an individual philanthropist. I am referring to the chosen areas of study. I stand to be corrected.
Just like Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, of Kano South and Hon Abubakar Bichi, representing Bichi Federal Constituency, Senator Barau moves to second stage of human Empowerment. With different style and approach. As the courses, country of study and institutions indicate.
This time around, not cash grants or craft tools, like sewing machines, farming implements and the rest. But education, education and education. Of carefully selected programmes.
Surely Barau understands the velocity at which societal growth and development move and fit into modern technology, that have all potentialities for global recognition and acceptance.
When it comes to improved healthcare, increased efficiency in all fabrics of the society, enhanced education and smart infrastructure, among others, Artificial Intelligence is there.
For improving and engaging real technology for national security, job creation and sustainable economic growth and development, among others, Cybersecurity takes charge. Barau has the intelligence to understand this calculus.
As Hon Barau clearly sees beyond local politics, he chooses some of the most relevant and marketable programmes for the already airlifted students for their higher Degrees. The choice of India, for these courses, is in itself extraordinary and engaging.
Under Robotics Science, industrial automation, productivity, accuracy and efficiency in manufacturing are well placed for improvement. While in the healthcare sector this all-important programme, plays an important role in adding up in the areas of patient care, surgeries as well as rehabilitation of global standard.
It also helps much in monitoring and mitigating effects of climate change, pollution and other natural disasters. People of such educational attainment, in Robotics, have an added advantage over others in studying and understanding the universe in a scientific way. That is space exploration at its best.
Just two days to new year, Barau witnessed the airlift of those beneficiaries, when he reveals that, “One of the areas that we have a problem in educating our youth is the northwestern part of this country. We have a youth population, which is an asset to us, but our problem is that they are not well-educated. And I feel that our number one solution to our problems is educating our youth.”
“And we understand the importance of human capital. It’s key to the development of every nation.
It’s in this regard that I feel that the best thing to do is to begin to educate, help, or complement what the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is doing in terms of giving access to indigent students, our youth, who do not have the wherewithal, whose parents do not have the wherewithal to train them educationally.”
So he has the entire Northwest in mind.
As he also promised that, he would provide the beneficiaries with resources for their startups. This tells us that, Hon Barau is targeting at making Kano excel in innovation and entrepreneurship. To become Nigeria’s Silicon Valley.
Which will automatically lead to the emergence of new businesses and job opportunities for the overall development of the state.
While at the same time, such effort automatically leads to skills development, collaboration and teamwork for socio-economic impacts.
The nature and style of this scholarship where beneficiaries come from across local governments, not limited to his Constituency Kano North, but from all parts of the state, is the first of its kind.
People expect and wish that, other politicians, not only from All Progressives Congress (APC) should take a leaf from the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau I. Jibrin. Moving to second stage of empowerment programmes.
Anwar was former Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Can be reach @ fatimanbaba1@gmail.com
31st December, 2024
