Opinion

Panorama: Quality Education: Time for Private School Proprietors to Rethink Their Policies

Published

4 years ago

September 25, 2021

Eric

By Sani Sa’idu Baba

My dear country men and women, I know that no one will argue the fact that education is the key to everything that is good in our world today. But please permit me to admit without hesitation that we have a long way to go on matters of education in Nigeria, especially in the Northern part of the country. It is that time of the year again when parents, guardians and other relevant bodies supporting children’s education are put on their toes to meet up with educational need.

Well, my piece today would definitely provoke some discourse, especially with blames heaped on government for lackadaisical attitude to education. T

Today, I am not going to point any accusing finger to government or any of its policies because I believe people must do everything possible to help themselves. It is obvious the sorry state of our public schools and education at large has contributed immensely to some of the issues I intend to discuss today. I must however acknowledge the fact that there is to some extent improvement in the government’s effort on child education, especially the girl-child, but such effort is practically not sufficient to bring the needed change. Some of the private schools are also doing great. I am a living witness of how they uncompromisingly made the education of their students a priority. Sadly, such effort might have knowingly or unknowingly been in vain due to a weak policy, or a setback capable of ruining every effort put in place. But they must always remember that a liberal education is at the heart of a civil society, and at the heart of liberal education is the act of teaching. I will discuss that in a jiffy.

The main issue that caught my attention recently is something that has made me speechless as a father, and further depressed my optimism about the future of grass root education in Nigeria, especially the North. Unfortunately, that happened in a school that I admire and respect so much.

Although I learnt about similar complaints in some others, but based on my various inquisitions, I came to realize that some of the policies are needlessly imposed or inappropriately taken. I am sure that some of the proprietors are not even aware of the development, what majority will consider unacceptable or rather, an act of sabotage to the success that those schools had recorded so far.

On the other side of the coin, the authorities of such schools might have taken the decision out of what would be regarded as human error, certainly because no one is perfect no matter how much commendation one had received. Whatever the case maybe, I believe that quality education should be and must remain the priority of both the schools and the parents. This idea has for long been in my thoughts, especially whenever I visit the southern part of the country and realized that education has uncommon importance in the society. No child should be educationally cheated or deprived in whatever ways and for whatever reason. And this ideology is what I care for deep down in my heart.

My love for education is non-negotiable. I hate to see a situation where the child’s education is tempered with. As a parent, I will welcome the idea of careful regulation of private schools not only in Kano, but in the whole country.

During the administration of former Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso, there was an attempt to regulate private schools and ensure they are complementing government’s effort towards imparting knowledge on Kano State children. However, I don’t support a situation where schools will be forced to reduce their fees even due to circumstances like what Governor Ganduje of Kano State did in November, 2020 as the pandemic recedes. To me, it’s akin to asking a shop owner to sell a commodity he or she bought N5000 for N4000. I believe that will only pave way to further educational compromise. Probably by needless reduction of teachers and/or other workers. Private schools are private establishments like other business enterprises that I believe should be entitled to certain degree of freedom as long as such will not place others at disadvantaged position.

Coming back to the crux of my piece today, one can imagine a situation where children will resume in school, but some are denied academic benefits for weeks on the basis that his or her school fees was not paid, much as the two or three weeks’ notice that was given from the day of resumption did not elapsed. This means that not even the text books that are sometimes mandated to be bought in the school, will be given to the child. As a result, some weeks out of the 12 weeks per term are lost. To me, this is educational corruption, and it erodes social trust, worsens inequality, and sabotages development. I still cannot comprehend how a child will be denied maximum utilization of the background of the new class, a period that is considered very valuable. The most amazing issue of concern here is the fact that parents will still have to pay completely for everything despite their children being denied tutelage within definite learning periods. Selfishness? It’s understandable, however that some private schools are struggling to make ends meet in their businesses or are being faced with certain challenges in so many ways, and they have to device means through which their businesses will appreciate at the end of the day. They need to pay their teachers, assistants, maintain their schools and pay taxes. But whatever these entail, it is still not justifiable to employ ill policies and tactics that will spell doom against the students and their parents. I intend to advice the various schools proprietors in Nigeria, particularly in Kano State in the following ways.

Firstly, schools proprietors should understand that people choose their schools because of the trust and confidence they have in them, their perceived level of preparedness and most importantly, their ability to impact quality education. The dichotomous nature of the quality is to a large extent what mostly informed the choice between private and public schools in Nigeria. We understand that it is a contract that should recognize mutual respect and understanding. So these schools should be able to accept the children and treat them educationally equal and ensure striking balance between them.

Secondly, school authorities may choose to issue the list of books to parents and leave it open at their liberty to purchase from the same school or elsewhere due to circumstances which I believe is unique to everyone. Where a school chooses to make it compulsory to obtain it from them, they should give the most important learning materials to the students from day one to make sure that they are not lagging behind in the class.

Failure of their parents to pay within the stipulated period of time should then attract whatever penalty they so wish. Possibly by collecting the materials back, sending them back home to their parents etcetera. That will go a long way to activate the parents to do the needful without blaming the school. But segregating children in the class could be catastrophic, a bad experience which may in turn affect their future performances. Children sometimes don’t remember what you teach them but they always remember what you are.

Moreover, school authorities must educate their staff on the importance of good approach because negative words could be provocative, and I am sure no school no matter their strength, will want their students drained to other schools in a highly competitive environment.

Thirdly, if that rule should stand, the school must arrange compensatory sessions for the affected children to help them catch up. They should also find ways of identifying with people that do not joke with payments for their children and make sure they are not affected by this rule.

Besides, this gap should not be used as an avenue to put some children at a disadvantaged position not minding the purpose of their presence. Parents should fear GOD not to delay or refuse payments for their children without any reasons. Supporting the schools in all possible ways that will enhance quality education will go a long way to encourage these schools to maintain uncompromising standards.

I am not in any way against the norm that parents must patronize the schools in buying some of these study materials, but the manners in which they are handled need to be adjusted as a matter of urgency. A situation where parents must buy school uniforms, sportswear, cardigans from the school at very expensive prices should be reviewed. Some even fixed their schools fees without any consideration and can increase it without prior notice or consultation. Government needs to come in with appropriate regulations for the purpose of mediation between parents and the proprietors to ensure no party is taking more advantage of the other.

Government on its own part, can reduce the tax they are collecting from the schools to reduce their pressure, and give room for considerations that will ensure easy landing for the parents.

I trust these will go a long way to sanitize the operations of private schools in Nigeria vis-à-vis improved efficiency and harmonious co-existence. Parents and private schools authorities must work in synergy as a team to ensure quality education is uncompromisingly delivered.

Opinion

How Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza (PT, mNSP) Became Kano’s Healthcare Star and a Model for African Women in Leadership

Published

1 day ago

December 6, 2025

Eric

By Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba

My dear country men and women, over the years, I have been opportune to watch numerous speeches delivered by outstanding women shaping the global health sector especially those within Africa. Back home, I have also listened to towering figures like Dr. Hadiza Galadanci, the renowned O&G consultant whose passion for healthcare reform continues to inspire many. Even more closer home, there is Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza, my classmate and colleague. Anyone who knew her from the beginning would remember a hardworking young woman who left no stone unturned in her pursuit of excellence. Today, she stands tall as one of the most powerful illustrations of what African women in leadership can achieve when brilliance, discipline, and integrity are brought together.

Before I dwell into the main business for this week, let me make this serious confession. If you are a regular traveler within Nigeria like myself, especially in the last two years, you will agree that no state currently matches Kano in healthcare delivery and institutional sophistication. This transformation is not accidental. It is the result of a coordinated, disciplined, and visionary ecosystem of leadership enabled by Kano State Governor, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf. From the strategic drive of the Hospitals Management Board under the meticulous leadership of Dr. Mansur Nagoda, to the policy direction and oversight provided by the Ministry of Health led by the ever committed Dr. Abubakar Labaran, and the groundbreaking reforms championed by the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board under the highly cerebral Professor Salisu Ahmed Ibrahim, the former Private Health Institution Management Agency (PHIMA) boss, a man who embodies competence, hard work, honesty, and principle, the progress of Kano’s health sector becomes easy to understand. With such a strong leadership backbone, it is no surprise that individuals like Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza is thriving and redefining what effective healthcare leadership looks like in Nigeria.

Across the world, from top medical institutions to global leadership arenas, one truth echoes unmistakably: when women lead with vision, systems transform. Their leadership is rarely about theatrics or force; it is about empathy, innovation, discipline, and a capacity to drive change from the inside out. Kano State has, in recent years, witnessed this truth firsthand through the extraordinary work of Dr. Fatima at Sheikh Muhammad Jidda General Hospital.

In less than 2 years, Dr. Fatima has emerged as a phenomenon within Kano’s healthcare landscape. As the youngest hospital director in the state, she has demonstrated a style of leadership that mirrors the excellence seen in celebrated female leaders worldwide, women who inspire not by occupying space, but by redefining it. Her performance has earned her two high level commendations. First, a recognition by the Head of Service following a rigorous independent assessment of her achievements, and more recently, a formal commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board acknowledging her professionalism, discipline, and transformative impact.

These acknowledgements are far more than administrative gestures, they place her in the company of women leaders whose influence reshaped nations: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern with her empathy driven governance, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with her courageous reforms, and Germany’s Angela Merkel with her disciplined, steady leadership. Dr. Fatima belongs to this esteemed lineage of women who do not wait for change, they create it.

What sets her apart is her ability to merge vision with structure, compassion with competence, and humility with bold ambition. Staff members describe her as firm yet accessible, warm yet uncompromising on standards, traits that embody the modern leadership model the world is steadily embracing. Under her stewardship, Sheikh Jidda General Hospital has transformed from a routine public facility into an institution of possibility, demonstrating what happens when a capable woman is given the opportunity to lead without constraint.

The recent commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board captures this evolution clearly: “Dr. Fatima has strengthened administrative coordination, improved patient care, elevated professional standards, and fostered a hospital environment where excellence has become the norm rather than the exception”. These outcomes are remarkable in a system that often battles bureaucratic bottlenecks and infrastructural limitations. Her work is proof that effective leadership especially in health must be visionary, intentional, and rooted in integrity.

In a period when global discourse places increasing emphasis on the importance of women in leadership particularly in healthcare, Dr. Fatima stands as a living testament to what is possible. She has demonstrated that leadership is never about gender, but capacity, clarity of purpose, and the willingness to serve with unwavering commitment.

Her rise sends a powerful message to young girls across Nigeria and Africa: that excellence has no gender boundaries. It is a call to institutions to trust and empower competent women. And it is a reminder to society that progress accelerates when leadership is guided by competence rather than stereotypes.

As Kano continues its journey toward comprehensive healthcare reform, Dr. Fatima represents a new chapter, one where leadership is defined not by age or gender, but by impact, innovation, and measurable progress. She is, without question, one of the most compelling examples of modern African women in leadership today.

May her story continue to enlighten, inspire, and redefine what African women can, and will achieve when given the opportunity to lead.

Dr. Baba writes from Kano, and can be reached via drssbaba@yahoo.com

Opinion

Book Review: Against the Odds by Dozy Mmobuosi

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

By Sola Ojewusi

Against the Odds is an ambitious, deeply personal, and unflinchingly honest memoir that traces the remarkable rise of Dozy Mmobuosi, one of Nigeria’s most dynamic and controversial entrepreneurs. In this sweeping narrative, Mmobuosi reveals not just the public milestones of his career, but the intimate struggles, internal battles, and defining moments that shaped his identity and worldview.

The book is both a personal testimony and a broader commentary on leadership, innovation, and Africa’s future—and it succeeds in balancing these worlds with surprising emotional clarity.

A Candid Portrait of Beginnings

Mmobuosi’s story begins in the bustling, unpredictable ecosystem of Lagos, where early challenges served as the furnace that forged his ambitions. The memoir details the circumstances of his upbringing, the value systems passed down from family, and the early encounters that sparked his desire to build solutions at scale.

These foundational chapters do important work: they humanize the protagonist. Readers meet a young Dozy not as a business figurehead, but as a Nigerian navigating complex social, financial, and personal realities—realities that millions of Africans will find familiar.

The Making of an Entrepreneur

As the narrative progresses, the memoir transitions into the defining phase of Mmobuosi’s business evolution. Here, he walks readers through the origins of his earliest ventures and the relentless curiosity that led him to operate across multiple industries—fintech, agri-tech, telecoms, AI, healthcare, consumer goods, and beyond.

What is striking is the pattern of calculated risk-taking. Mmobuosi positions himself as someone unafraid to venture into uncharted territory, even when the cost of failure is steep. His explanations offer readers valuable insights into:
• market intuition
• the psychology of entrepreneurship
• the sacrifices required to build at scale
• the emotional and operational toll of high-growth ventures

These passages make the book not only readable but instructive—especially for emerging

African entrepreneurs.

Triumphs, Crises, and Public Scrutiny
One of the book’s most compelling strengths is its willingness to confront controversy head-on.

Mmobuosi addresses periods of intense scrutiny, institutional pressure, and personal trials.

Instead of glossing over these chapters, he uses them to illustrate the complexities of building businesses in emerging markets and navigating public perception.

The tone is reflective rather than defensive, inviting readers to consider the thin line between innovation and misunderstanding in environments where the rules are still being written.

This vulnerability is where the memoir finds its emotional resonance.

A Vision for Africa

Beyond personal history, Against the Odds expands into a passionate manifesto for African transformation. Mmobuosi articulates a vision of a continent whose young population, natural resources, and intellectual capital position it not as a follower, but a potential leader in global innovation.

He challenges outdated narratives about Africa’s dependency, instead advocating for
homegrown technology, supply chain sovereignty, inclusive economic systems, and investment in human capital.

For development strategists, policymakers, and visionaries, these sections elevate the work from memoir to thought leadership.

The Writing: Accessible, Engaging, and Purposeful

Stylistically, the memoir is direct and approachable. Mmobuosi writes with clarity and intention, blending storytelling with reflection in a way that keeps the momentum steady. The pacing is effective: the book moves seamlessly from personal anecdotes to business lessons, from introspection to bold declarations.

Despite its business-heavy subject matter, the prose remains accessible to everyday readers.

The emotional honesty, in particular, will appeal to those who appreciate memoirs that feel lived rather than curated.

Why This Book Matters

Against the Odds arrives at a critical moment for Africa’s socioeconomic trajectory. As global attention shifts toward African innovation, the need for authentic narratives from those building within the system becomes essential.

Mmobuosi’s memoir offers:
• a case study in resilience
• an insider’s perspective on entrepreneurship in frontier markets
• a meditation on reputation, legacy, and leadership
• a rallying cry for African ambition

For readers like Sola Ojewusi, whose work intersects with media, policy, leadership, and social development, this book offers profound insight into the human stories driving Africa’s new generation of builders.

Final Verdict

Against the Odds is more than a success story—it is a layered, introspective, and timely work that captures the pressures and possibilities of modern African enterprise. It challenges stereotypes, raises important questions about leadership and impact, and ultimately delivers a narrative of persistence that audiences across the world will find relatable.

It is an essential read for anyone interested in the future of African innovation, the personal realities behind public leadership, and the enduring power of vision and resilience

Opinion

Redefining Self-leadership: Henry Ukazu As a Model

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

By Abdulakeem Sodeeq SULYMAN

In a world filled with talents and unique gifts, nurturing oneself for an impact-filled living becomes one of the potent metrics for assuming how one’s life would unfold – either in the nearest or far future. I am sure the question you may be curious to ask is ‘what is the important quality that has shaped the life of every individual who has unleashed their ingenuity?’ Apparently, our society is filled with numerous people, who missed the track of their life. Their iniquity is boiled down to one thing – failure to lead oneself.

Realising how important it is to be your own leader has been the springboard for every transformative life. Notably, this also becomes the premise for appreciating and celebrating Henry Ukazu for setting the pace and modeling self-leadership in this era, where self-leadership is under-appreciated by our people. Self-leadership itself engineers purposeful and impactful living, turning individuals to sources of hope to others.

This is exactly what Henry Ukazu symbolises. The name Henry Ukazu is akin to many great things such as ‘Unleashing One’s Destiny,’ ‘Finding One’s Purpose’ and ‘Triumphant Living.’ Regardless of the impression one have formed about Henry Ukazu, one thing you cannot deny is his ability to be pure to nature and committed to his cause. Henry Ukazu is one of the rare people who still believed in the values of the human worth and has committed every penny of his to ensure that every human deserves to live the best life.

The trajectory of Henry Ukazu’s life is convincing enough to be choosing as an icon by anyone who chooses to climb the ladder of self-leadership. Oftentimes, Henry Ukazu always narrate how he faced the storms of life when birthing his purpose. He takes honour in his struggles, knowing full well that every stumbling blocks life throws at him helped in building himself. If not for self-leadership, he will not found honours in his struggles, let alone challenging himself to be an example of purposeful living to others.

Without mincing words, Henry Ukazu’s life has been blessed with the presence of many people, with some filling his life with disappointments, while some blessing him with immeasurable transformations. Surprisingly, Henry Ukazu has never chosen to be treating people negatively; rather he would only choose the path of honour by avoiding drama and let common sense prevail. That’s one of the height of simplicity!

Dear readers, do you know why today is important for celebrating Henry Ukazu? Today, 3rd December, is his birthday and with all sincerity, Henry Ukazu deserves to be celebrated because he has chosen the noble path, one filled with honours and recognitions for being an icon of inspiration and transformation to the mankind. As Henry Ukazu marks another year today, may the good Lord continue shielding him from all evils and guiding him in right directions, where posterity will feel his role and impacts!

Many happy returns, Sir!