Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has stated that there cannot be peace and security in the state when 80 per cent of the citizens, especially those in rural areas, are living in poverty.
The Governor made this statement at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall on Thursday during the inauguration of the State Inter-Religious Harmony Committee.
He added that there are over 600,000 out-of-school children in the state, and they must return to school for peace to prevail in the state.
He emphasised that his government would work with religious leaders to bring peace and development to the state.
He pleaded with religious leaders of both faiths (Muslim and Christian) to support the government by promoting peace among their followers.
The Governor stated that, in recognition of the social problems in the state, his administration will roll out a series of social interventions involving religious leaders due to their close connection with the grassroots population.
According to the Governor, “We have a problem on our hands. That is why I tell you that there is poverty in rural areas; 80 per cent of our people live below the poverty line. That is the reality.
“Last month, we commenced the construction of 32 roads across the state, most of which are in rural areas.
Next week, we will begin the construction of 100 schools to address the issue of out-of-school children in Kaduna State.
Children of the poor who should be in the classroom are instead roaming the streets, and we claim we want to solve the problem of insecurity.
It cannot happen. Therefore, we must get these children back to school, or we will not overcome the problem.
“Furthermore, our research has shown that a majority of these children are out of school due to poverty.
People in rural areas do not send their children to school because they need them to work on farms or engage in street vending.
If we do not reduce the poverty rate from 80 per cent to at least 30 per cent in the next few years, we will never be able to address the issue of out-of-school children.
“So, we must revitalise the economy of rural areas through job creation to eradicate poverty. This is the only way we can develop Kaduna State. We must work collectively with all stakeholders, including religious leaders, to achieve this.”
The Governor also disclosed that the state government will work with religious leaders to collect data on orphans in the state for the $5,000 scholarship programme by the Qatar Charity Foundation.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, mentioned that with the support and cooperation of the government, religious leaders can change the negative narrative of Kaduna to a positive one, as they did in the past, which resulted in nine years of peace in the state.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna State, Professor Shefiu Abdullahi, called for the establishment of two unity schools, one in the south and one in the north of the state.
He believed that this would foster unity in the state, as opposed to the common tradition of faith-based schools that have left children isolated from the cultures and religions of others.
It was agreed that the Inter-Religious Harmony Committee meeting would be held every quarter of the year.
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