Former lawmaker that represented Kaduna Central in the Senate, Senator Shehu Sani, has linked the persistent poverty and insecurity in Northern Nigeria to a failure in harnessing the region’s abundant resources and poor education.
Speaking at the “Kaduna Girl Child Conference and Award Ceremony” organised by The Creative Think Tank over the weekend, he stated that the north’s untapped wealth, if properly utilised, could transform the region’s fortunes.
Sani added that the North is rich in natural resources such as gold, lithium, uranium, and fertile land, as well as hosting two-thirds of Nigeria’s rivers. Yet, despite this wealth, poor leadership and the lack of investment in education have left the region mired in poverty and insecurity.
“Despite the vast resources surrounding us, there is a serious disconnect between this wealth and the standard of living of our people,” he lamented.
“Northern Nigeria should not be poor with all the riches we have, but leadership failure and a lack of educational empowerment have brought us to this point,” he said.
He argued that addressing education and leadership deficits is essential for peace and prosperity saying, “Illiteracy breeds poverty, and poverty breeds insecurity. If we had educated the people responsible for insecurity three decades ago, they wouldn’t have turned to crime. Education liberates and energises society, ensuring peace and security,” Sani added.
The chairman of The Creative Think Tank, Olivera Idahosa, also highlighted the importance of empowering girls, announcing plans to support 200 girls by 2025. He stated the need to protect the girl child and provide opportunities for them to thrive in society.