Setting the Record Straight: Governor Bala Mohammed’s Unwavering Commitment to Education
By Abdulwahab Muhammad Bauchí
In recent days, a misleading media report has been circulating, attempting to twist and misrepresent the words of His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State. The report falsely claims that the Governor undermined the value of western education during a public engagement with a group of young people.
Let us be clear: nothing could be further from the truth.
Governor Bala Mohammed, known widely as Kauran Daula Usmaniyya, has always championed the power of education—both in words and action. At the said event, the Governor urged young people to embrace skill acquisition alongside formal education. He emphasized the importance of creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship as critical tools for addressing poverty, unemployment, and youth restiveness.
Unfortunately, some media outlets chose to sensationalize and distort this message, claiming that he dismissed western education and instead encouraged youths to become drivers. This is not only inaccurate—it is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and discredit a leader who has consistently prioritized education as a cornerstone of development in Bauchi State.
Governor Bala Mohammed’s personal story is deeply rooted in education. He hails from a family that highly valued learning—his late father was a respected headmaster. That legacy continues in his governance. From the onset of his administration in 2019, he declared a state of emergency in the education sector, demonstrating a clear commitment to transforming the system.
Under his leadership, the Bauchi State Government has:
- Invested over N17 billion in the education sector.
- Consistently allocated the largest portion of the state budget to education, exceeding the UNESCO benchmark.
- Constructed, reconstructed, and rehabilitated over 5,000 classroom blocks across the state.
- Shouldered the cost of WAEC, NECO, and JAMB examinations for Bauchi students.
- Boosted scholarship disbursement to nearly N1 billion—an unprecedented figure in the state’s history.
The Governor’s message to youths was never about rejecting education. Rather, it was a call to action: that in today's fast-changing world, education must be combined with skills that can unlock new opportunities and drive self-reliance. This is a modern, realistic, and empowering approach to youth development.
As a government, we usually rise above baseless accusations. However, when misinformation threatens to mislead the public and obscure genuine progress, it becomes necessary to respond.
We appeal to the people of Bauchi State to stay informed and continue supporting Governor Bala Mohammed’s efforts to build a stronger, more educated, and more prosperous state—through the vision of #MyBauchiProject.
We also urge members of the media to prioritize truth, responsibility, and constructive criticism in their reporting—for the good of our democracy and the development of our dear state.
— Bauchi State Ministry of Information and Communication