Duncan Green’s “From Poverty To Power” vividly describes a person’s life from the cradle to the grave as interwoven in chances dominated by the extraordinary levels of inequality and lack of education that characterize the modern world.
He paints a picture of two diff erent girls: one born in Norway and the other in Sierra Leone, with the Norwegian having a higher chance of living to old age due to technological advancement occasioned by quality of education and leadership.
Th e Sierra Leonean girl on the other hand, would most likely die before her fi fth birthday, because of low standards in all strata of human development in Sierra Leone.
In Nigeria, the systemic decay in the education sector is awful and devastating.
From primary to university level, the rot is glaring with low-quality output, save for a few institutions that maintain high standards amid mounting challenges.
Alarmed by the terrifying and declining trend of education, the stagnation, or at worst, the decay which is signifi cantly drifting the moral ethos of our society, the Danburan Zazzau, Alhaji Sani Mohammed Shaaban, set up a committee to formulate modalities for a foundation to cater for the education of less privileged children in his community and support parents who cannot not fi nance their wards’ education.
Shaaban reasoned that good education can be life-changing, helping people develop to their full potentials and putting them on a path of success.
He postulated that educating the less privileged, some of whom are gifted, could kick-start a circle of development.
More educated children, when fully educated, can earn more money that they invest back into their families and communities and play more active roles in leading their communities and the country.
Th e foundation has since swung it action, fi rst by awarding two outstanding graduating students of Th erbow Secondary School Sabon Gari, Zaria.
Th e students were the overall best in academics, morals and ethics.
Another intervention by the foundation is at the Zaria Academy, nominated the philanthropist to launch two books authored by ex-students of the school.
Th e books; “Th oughts of A Deranged Realist” by Umar Manir Ja’afaru and “Basic Physics For SSS Students” by Salisu Hussaini Musa Bunkure, were launched on Saturday, July 22, the 2017 Prizegiving Day of the school.
Elated by the academic pursuits of the school, Shaaban donated, mobilised guests to donate and promised to spearhead fund mobilisation from his friends until the next graduating ceremony.
Shaaban opined that there are valuable lessons to learn from these initiatives, but more progress is needed, especially from wealthy individuals, corporate organisations, governments and traditional institutions for renewed and collective actions for advancing education.
Doing so, will reduce the high rate of crime in society and build strong future leaders.
