BY JULIET EKWENUGO

Kaduna

The Director-General of Daawah Izalatul Bidah wa Ikamatul Sunnah in Kaduna State, Hon. Abdullahi Babayaro Kajuru, has urged political actors and other stakeholders to put partisan interests aside and support the proposed establishment of a Kaduna State University (KASU) Study Centre in Kajuru Local Government Area.

Babayaro, who is also the Adviser to the Executive Chairman of Kajuru LGA, Hon. Dauda Madaki, on Stakeholders and Relations, made the call while advocating greater collaboration, tolerance and constructive engagement among stakeholders for peace, unity and sustainable development in the area.

He said traditional institutions, religious bodies, community leaders, youth and women groups, political actors and other critical stakeholders should see themselves as partners in development rather than competitors.

According to him, development efforts could suffer where suspicion, division and partisan rivalry take precedence over the collective interest of the people.

Babayaro particularly commended Madaki for pursuing the establishment of a KASU Study Centre in Kajuru, describing the initiative as a progressive step that could improve access to higher education for residents of the local government.

He expressed concern over what he described as opposition from some political interests to the proposed centre, stressing that education should not be subjected to partisan considerations.

He said the initiative was aimed at bringing higher education closer to the people, particularly young people, workers, parents and prospective students who may face challenges travelling long distances to access university education.

Babayaro added that the establishment of the study centre could also stimulate academic activities, create employment opportunities and boost businesses that would emerge around the institution.

He urged those with technical, academic or administrative concerns about the proposed centre to raise them transparently and constructively, rather than allowing political differences to determine their position on the initiative.

The adviser also called on political actors, community leaders and relevant authorities to support programmes capable of advancing education and human-capital development in Kajuru.

He urged stakeholders to support the Madaki administration in implementing programmes that would improve the lives of residents, while stressing that constructive criticism should be welcomed when driven by genuine public interest.

Babayaro maintained that the development of Kajuru should not be judged by who proposed an initiative or who takes credit for it, but by its impact on the people.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders to focus on how to make the proposed KASU Study Centre a reality and expand educational opportunities for the people of Kajuru.