Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) students have participated in an event to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the abduction of Chibok School Girls organized by the Honorable Commissioners for Higher Education of Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The event was conducted on the 15th of April 2024 at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano.
The event brought together students, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the education sector in the three states involved.
A combination of level 200 and 400 students from Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) participated in three roundtable sessions alongside their counterparts from over 10 universities from Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states which include Bayero University Kano, Al-qalam University Katsina and Federal University Dutse, Jigawa among others. SUN students’ participation was ably facilitated by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ajith Kumar V. V. who emphasized the importance of student support in societal development.
Students talked about causes, implications and solutions to girl child kidnappings and attacks on schools in the four roundtable sessions. Aisha Kabir a level 400 student from the Department of Entrepreneurship at SUN, explained some of the critical causes of school abductions such as remote locations of schools and insecurity.
On his part, Abulwafa Sadiq Kassim, also a final year student from the Department of Computer Science at SUN stated that one of the implications of school abductions is a lack of prospects for youths in areas susceptible to the ill-act. Aisha Aminu Ringim, a level 200 level student from the Department of Software Engineering at SUN who participated in the solutions roundtable, highlighted the need for federal and state governments to be deliberate about providing security in schools and communities.
Also, Umar Musa, a student of International Relations at SUN, moderated the fourth session, a question and answer session that enabled an interface between the students and the policy makers present at the event.
On their part, the Honorable Commissioners for Higher Education in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States – Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar/Mata, Dr. Isah Chamo and Prof. Abdulhamid Ahmad assured the participants and general public that the government is working tirelessly to restore peace and security that will mitigate mass abductions of school children, especially in remote locations in the respective states and the country at large. They assured them their viable suggestions would be neatly weaved into policy-making and other education initiatives.
Other distinguished personalities who attended the event include Ms. Hafsat Adhama, special assistant to Kano State governor on girl-child education.
The UNICEF officials appreciated the efforts of commissioners, students and other participants who attended the program.