To end years of insecurity, the Katsina State Government has announced plans to roll out literacy classes for repentant bandits.
A groundbreaking effort aimed at transforming former insurgents into productive members of society.
Executive director of the Katsina State Agency for Mass Education, Bilkisu Muhammad Kakai, who disclosed the plan to journalists in Katsina, said the programme will blend Islamic and Western education to reshape the mindset and future of ex-bandits who recently laid down their arms following peace talks across several troubled communities.
“These classes will not only teach them to read and write but also instil positive values to help them reintegrate fully and contribute meaningfully to society,” Kakai said.
She confirmed that the classes would be rolled out in phases in collaboration with local government chairmen.
The initiative comes on the heels of multiple peace accords that saw notorious bandit groups voluntarily surrender their weapons in a bid to restore lasting calm to the region long ravaged by insecurity.
Reeling out her agency’s recent achievements, Kakai revealed that 68 new adult literacy centres have been set up near district heads’ palaces across the state. At the same time, a special Basic Post-Literacy class has been opened at the Katsina Correctional Centre to help inmates pursue higher education and even earn university degrees.
Kakai said she toured all local government areas to assess facilities to ensure quality delivery and pledged that this year’s budget makes room for upgrades and expansion of existing centres.
She applauded Governor Dikko Umar Radda for his unwavering support. She urged National Assembly members representing Katsina to channel part of their constituency allowances to establish more literacy and women’s centres.
“It’s time for our lawmakers to play a bigger role in eliminating illiteracy and poverty. Supporting adult education is one sure way to achieve that,” she added.
With this initiative, Katsina is charting a new course: giving ex-bandits pens instead of guns and offering them a second chance to build better lives for themselves and for the communities they once terrorised.
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