Ex-Bauchi education commissioner seeks integration of local languages into global use

Former Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Dr Jamila Dahiru, has called for the integration of local languages into global technologies as a panacea for driving education in Northern Nigeria as well as the country at large.

She made this known while receiving the Distinguished Innovative Leadership Award in recognition of her pioneering role in promoting digital transformation and policy innovation in Northern Nigeria’s education sector.

The award was presented at the EduNorth Summit held in Kaduna over the weekend, a programme jointly organised by the Kaduna State Ministry of Education and Speedy Educational Consults, with the theme “Attaining International Educational Standards in Northern Nigeria.”

While receiving the award, Dr Dahiru advocated for the adoption of locally developed digital solutions to drive inclusive and adaptive learning across the region. She emphasised that integrating indigenous languages into global technologies would help bridge educational gaps and boost global competitiveness.

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“The region has an opportunity to adopt modern technologies for local use by focusing on indigenous languages and their relative applications within digital platforms. With the right policies and funding, home-grown solutions can be embedded into digital learning systems to make education more accessible and relevant,” she said.

Dr Dahiru, a lecturer and education policy advocate, stressed the importance of data-driven policymaking and sustained stakeholder advocacy to support reforms in the sector.

In his remarks, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Prof Muhammad Sani Bello, described the summit as a timely intervention aligning with the state’s ongoing education reforms.

Represented by the Deputy Director of Planning in the ministry, Mallam Shehu Abbas, Prof Bello reaffirmed the government’s readiness to collaborate with credible partners to expand access to quality education.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Scholarships and Loans Board, Prof Yahaya Saleh Ibrahim, reflected on the historical relevance of the Ajami education model in Northern Nigeria. He lamented the sector’s decline due to insecurity, poor infrastructure, and socio-economic barriers, and proposed the establishment of a Northern innovation hub to revive the system through international collaboration.

The summit brought together stakeholders from the National Assembly, state and local governments, civil society organisations, academic institutions, and development partners.

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