Zamfara monarchs seek indigenous provost for state’s college

Some emirs and traditional rulers in Zamfara State have called on the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, to consider appointing an indigene of the state as provost of the Federal College of Education Technical (FCET), Gusau, saying “we need our own blood.”

Since the college was established over 30 years ago, they said no Zamfara indigene has occupied the position of provost.

Speaking in an interview, the chairman Zamfara Concerned Indigenes, Muhammad Idris Kaura, lamented that the college had been in standstill mode for two years now without a substantive provost.

According to him, many emirs and traditional rulers have endorsed Dr Rabiat Musa Mafara to be the substantive provost, saying that she has all the requisite credentials.

He explained that Dr Rabiat Musa was a chief lecturer at the College of Education, Maru, in Zamfara, and now a senior lecturer with the Federal University Gusau.

“Some emirs and traditional rulers in the state have backed Dr. Rabiat Musa Mafara, an indigene. They are appealing to the minister to consider appointing ‘a son of the soil’,” he said.

He alleged that the chairperson of the governing council of the college, Mrs. Iyabo Veronica Anisulowo, has put the college on a standstill for over two years now without a substantive provost.

Border closure: Since Nigerians no longer come, our businesses threatened —Benin Republic traders

“This is unusual because no Federal College of Education in Nigeria has this history of being sited in a particular state and no indigene of that state has got an opportunity to head the institution even for once.

“We call on the Honourable Minister of Education to rescue FCE (T) Gusau from the bondage of the governing council, so that academic and non-academic activities would progress in the institution.”

Tribune Education reports that academic and non-academic unions in the college, the Zamfara State Concerned Indigenes, the Northern Youth Assembly state chapter, traditional and political leaders and other stakeholders have all complained on the perceived unfair treatment and injustice meted out to Zamfara State.

FCE (T) Gusau has been in existence for 30 years (1989-2019) but no one from Zamfara State has ever served as substantive provost of the college.