Corps member builds classrooms for Bauchi school

A serving corps member, Rahila Garba, has constructed a block of two classrooms for pupils of Gudum Hausawa Primary School in the Gudum community, a suburb of the Bauchi metropolis.

Speaking at the inauguration of the project on Tuesday, Garba said when she came to Bauchi, she discovered that the school was in a deplorable condition with pupils learning under trees and sitting on bare ground.

She said immediately she felt compassion for the children and decided to embark on the project to change the situation and put a smile on the faces of the pupils and their teachers.

She added, “At the time I was posted here for my primary assignment, I discovered the need for more classrooms and the learning environment was not conducive for the pupils and the management of the school, even the structures were dilapidated and needed urgent renovation as most students received lectures under the trees.

“It was this horrible experience that gave birth to the idea for the construction of additional classrooms. Though at first, it was not an easy one to bring this idea to life considering my financial capability, but I was determined and so passionate to see that this project is put to life.”

She said she made contacts and solicited for assistance from government ministries, departments and agencies as well as prominent individuals in the state to help her in achieving her plans, but only and engineering firm supported her.

“I decided to make some consultations of what it will cost for the construction of the entire project and I began to shuttle here and there seeking for approval and doing some paperwork and I finally got the approval of Habibu Engineering Nigeria Limited for sponsorship. I am proudly saying that this project today is completed and it will be officially inaugurated to commence class activities here.

“I challenge you today to rise and contribute your quota to the society to make it a better place for all of us and our future leaders by supporting good education. Education is the key to every development in our homes, communities and the nation at large irrespective of our cultures, religion and tribes,” Garba said.

She thanked the NYSC for granting her the approval to carry out the project and Habibu Engineering Nigeria Limited for financing it, the Office of the Head of Civil Service for granting her the permission, fellow corps members that supported and encouraged her when the dea was first conceived and the management of the Primary school.

Speaking while inaugurating the project, the Bauchi State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps, Rifkatu Yakubu, explained that the corps member facilitated the construction of the building as her Community Service Development project.

She commended her for her resilience and determination to carry out the school-building project despite the challenges of raising funds.

She appealed to governments at all levels, well-meaning Nigerians, and corporate organisations to support corps members in carrying out community development projects.

Yakubu explained that the block of classrooms built by the corps member was the first of its kind she had inaugurated since assuming office as the NYSC Coordinator in the state about a year ago.

“I am very happy that this project is a big and viable one. We’re competing nationwide. We have the Local Government Honours Award, the State Honours Award and we have the Presidential Honours Award.

“This project would be forwarded to the national headquarters and by the grace of God, she’ll compete with other states and by the grace of God, I know she’ll come out victorious,” she said.

The NYSC coordinator said that Garba’s project would bring succor to the pupils of the Gudun Hausawa community who hitherto had been studying in difficult conditions under trees and being exposed to snakes and other dangerous animals.

The Sarkin Gudum Hausawa community, Umar Tukur, appreciated the corps member for the gesture saying it would benefit the entire community for generations to come.

Tukur also expressed gratitude to all those who supported the project and appealed to the Local Government Council to construct the road and a bridge in the community, saying schoolchildren found it difficult to access the school during the rainy season.

In a remark, the Chairperson of Bauchi Local Government, Zinab Babantakko, commended Garba for facilitating the building of the classrooms in the school, assuring all that the government will renovate all abandoned school buildings across the state.

Babatakko announced that the second block of classrooms in the school, which is in a dilapidated state, would be renovated soon and equipped with learning and toilet facilities.