Bauchi State Government has declared that it will henceforth ensure that 15th January of every year, would be used to organize a public lecture and prayer in honour of the memories of late Nigeria’s First and only Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
The plan was announced by the State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed at the maiden edition of the annual memorial lecture and prayer in honour of the late Prime Minister held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Tomb, Bauchi on Wednesday during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration.
The Governor also said that the lecture and prayer are to orient citizens of the state on the lifestyle of the late Prime Minister in order to encourage the younger generation to emulate him.
According to him, the state government will promote culture through organizing such event considering the contributions of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to the independence of the country.
The Governor who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Modibbo Ahmed, recalled that the late Prime Minister had worked positively during the first republic with other regions and tribes of the country.
He said that ” Late Nigeria’s Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa is a property of not only State, country and International in general. We must emulate his legacies for the country to progress.”
To this end, the Governor said that through the State Ministry of Education government will come up with the reading of books to train students on the legacies and lifestyle of the late Prime minister for the future of the country.
Bala Mohammed reaffirmed the determination of his administration towards the advancement of culture and tourism for the economic development of the state.
He added that to improve revenue drive of the state, the state government will work in synergy with experts by considering their inputs in its activities.
A member of the family of the late Prime Minister, Malam Bilyaminu Tafawa Balewa described as a welcome development, the declaration of 15th January every year as a day for lecture and prayer for the late Prime Minister.
Bilyaminu Tafawa Balewa appealed to the state government to consider resuscitating the tomb to attract more visitors and to support the family to come up with a foundation.