In a heartwarming show of appreciation, teachers in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State have honoured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., for their pivotal roles in advancing education in the region.
The commendation came during an award ceremony organized by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Zaria chapter, in collaboration with the Local Government Education Authority and the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), as part of activities marking the second anniversary of Speaker Abbas in office.
The event, dubbed “Iya Day” in reference to the Speaker’s traditional title of Iyan Zazzau, saw both leaders lauded for delivering what teachers called “tangible dividends of democracy.”
Speaking at the event, Speaker Abbas expressed gratitude for the recognition and attributed much of Zaria’s recent development to President Tinubu’s receptive leadership.
“Without the support of President Tinubu, Zaria Federal Constituency would not have witnessed the level of federal intervention projects we have today,” Abbas said, adding that more projects were underway.
The award for President Tinubu was received on his behalf by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Hon. Ubah Maigari Ahmadu, who also announced a new federal initiative to upgrade schools across the region for better leadership development among students.
Stakeholders including the Chairman of Zaria Local Government, Engr. Jamil Ahmad Muhammad; Chairman of Kaduna SUBEB, Muhammad Mubarak; and Executive Secretary of the Zaria Local Education Authority, Dr. Hassana Muhammad, highlighted Speaker Abbas’s extraordinary efforts in transforming education across the constituency.
According to them, over 116 primary schools have been built or renovated under his watch, alongside extensive teacher empowerment programmes.In a major announcement, Speaker Abbas pledged to establish a dedicated education fund to assist teachers who wish to further their education but lack the financial means.
“I remember combining teaching and studying. It wasn’t easy,” Abbas recalled. “Today, I am committing to setting up a fund that will support teachers who want to do the same.”
To ease mobility for educators, Abbas distributed 116 motorcycles to Head Teachers and promised 500 more for classroom teachers.
He also highlighted the payment of examination fees and scholarships, including:NECO/WAEC and JAMB fees for over 3,000 secondary school students (2024–2025),Scholarships of N200,000–N800,000 for hundreds of tertiary institution students.A former teacher himself, the Speaker reflected on his humble beginnings and reaffirmed his commitment to the welfare of teachers.
“No one prompted this recognition, and I am deeply moved by it,” he said. “Whatever I do for education, I do because teaching shaped my life.”
In a visionary push for youth development, Abbas also announced plans to establish a sports center in Zaria, reviving extracurricular activities like inter-house sports, quiz competitions, and the Boys Scouts and Girls Guides programmes.
“Zaria must once again be a hub where future champions and leaders are born. We want to see the rise of another Kanu Nwankwo or Ahmed Musa from here,” the Speaker said.
The ceremony ended on a note of optimism and renewed commitment to education as a catalyst for social transformation in Zaria and beyond.