I previously shared insights on the profound rewards that teachers can experience during their careers. Reflecting on my time at Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), Tsiga, where I dedicated six years—the longest tenure of my teaching journey—I am proud to recognize numerous former students who have attained significant success in both public and private sectors. Among them are several individuals who have earned Ph.D. degrees and now serve as university lecturers, educators in Colleges of Education, bankers, and politicians. Notable alumni include Dr. Mikah Haruna, from ABU Zaria, Sanusi Tsiga from Isa Kaita College of Education in Dutsinma—who recently held the position of Education Secretary for the Bakori Local Government Education Authority—Sherifat Sade Suleiman, an accomplished accountant and banker, and Abdullahi Baƙo of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Additionally, there are influential politicians, including the current Vice Chairman of the Bakori Local Government Council, Lamis Ibrahim and the Bakori Local Government Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salisu Ibrahim.
What I previously overlooked was the substantial number of former students who have also thrived in the informal sector, becoming successful entrepreneurs and business owners who now proudly employ others. In this post, I will highlight three such individuals: a wood merchant, a metal craftsman, and a painting contractor.
The talents of these three former students were prominently displayed in a recent project at their alma mater, Government Day Secondary School, now known as Government Junior Secondary School (GJSS) Tsiga. This initiative involved the renovation of several classroom blocks, the provision of furniture, and the supply of sports equipment, all facilitated through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE). This World Bank-supported initiative, under the Federal Ministry of Education, aims to enhance secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls aged 10 to 20. Executed by the Katsina State Government under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, the AGILE project has successfully renovated, constructed, and reconstructed thousands of primary and secondary schools throughout the state. This endeavor has also empowered my former students to apply their skills while contributing to the local economy.
In the GJSS Tsiga project, the wood merchant, Hashimu, provided all the timber used for roofing and ceilings. Ibrahim Lawal, the metal craftsman, manufactured various classroom furniture pieces, including desks and chairs for teachers. Known for his ingenuity, Ibrahim can create almost any item needed in his workshop, where he also trains his children and other apprentices. Meanwhile, the painting contractor, Kabir Wada, supplied the majority of the paint for the project and employed his workforce to handle most of the painting tasks.
The AGILE project in Katsina State stands out as a significant empowerment initiative under Governor Dikko Radda’s leadership, aligning with his commitment to creating job opportunities for the unemployed. The systematic progress made in this regard is remarkable, with a substantial impact on the local economy through these various economic activities.
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