T
he late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was once asked why he introduced the Universal Free Education policy in the Old Western Region and was so meticulous in its implementation, and he said: "I do not want the children of my drivers to be drivers to my children neither do I want the children of my cooks to be cooks to my children. I want free access to education for all."
The kind of extreme patriotism and selflessness was not peculiar to Awolowo. It was a generational thing. Nigerians of all tribes and ages will never forget what Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe did for the country.
While many believe the subsequent generations of leaders have not done anything near the first republic generation, some young persons are beginning to change the narrative but are yet to be noticed because of the widely held belief that nothing good can come out of this generation.
While we are not making any needless comparison with legends like Awo and Sardauna, but we need to celebrate anyone in and outside power who is passionate about education and who goes out of his way to support efforts to keep the kids off the streets and in the classrooms.
Hon. Shaaban Ibrahim Sharada was born on the 12th of February 1984, in Sharada Quarters of Municipal Local Government Area of Kano State. He was educated at the Government Technical College Kano. He obtained his 1st Degree in Mass Communication at the Bayero University, Kano, BUK, from 2007 to 2011.
He obtained a Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership in 2020 at the London Graduate School, United Kingdom. He also acquired a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 2021 at the University of Chichester, United Kingdom. He has a Certificate in Oil and Gas Contract Management from the London Corporate Training, United Kingdom.
Sharada joined Freedom Radio, Kano in 2004 and went ahead to have a brilliant career, working in different departments.
He started showing leadership traits early in life. He served as Publicity Secretary of the Kano Youth Promotion Council, later as Pioneer Vice Chairman Sharada Youth Progressive Association. He was also Pioneer Treasurer of Radio Television Theatre and Art Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) Freedom Radio Chapter and later Publicity Secretary of the Kano state chapter of the association.
He handled various programs of all the leading Islamic Sects in Kano, giving every side equal opportunities for expression.
Sha’aban was the presenter of Romon Dimokradiyya and Siyasa A yau, which reviewed various political happenings Nigeria and abroad.
He was opportuned to run live political rallies, interviews with some states and national parties chairmen, past presidents, governors, Ministers and Diplomats from within and outside Nigeria.
Sha’aban took charge of the first major radio programme dedicated to propagating the activities of President Buhari in the 19 northern state.
Sharada was subsequently appointed Personal Assistant on Broadcast Media to President Buhari in 2015 and he served till 2019 when he contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives to represent Kano Municipal Fed Constituency. He is now the Chairman, Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
He was also President General, Network of African Parliamentarians for Defence and Security Committees.
He contested the primary election for the governorship position of Kano state under the platform of the APC and emerged second.
But owing to intense pressure from the people of Kano, he later moved to the ADP where he clinched the ticket to run for the governorship election on the platform of the party. He is a recipient of National Honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Strides in Educational Philanthropy
Sharada is the Founder of Sha’aban Sharada Foundation which is primarily dedicated to the furtherance of educational, health, economic and social development of his constituents and the entire people of Kano State.
The foundation in 2020 alone sponsored more than 80 less-privileged but brilliant students to different universities in Sudan. He also bore the cost of WAEC, NECO, JAMB and NABTEB for many students.
Under the empowerment programme of the Foundation, more than 50,000 youths and women were empowered with skills and resources for entrepreneurship. He facilitated the training and distribution of equipment in making modern Gurasa among 10 women in each of the 44 local government areas of Kano state to make them self-reliant.
During the Covid 19 pandemic, Hon. Sharada distributed more than 50,000 cartons of hand sanitizers, hand gloves and facemasks to local governments across the state and over 30,000 bags of rice to the needy.
The foundation was able to carry out the following interventions among others:- Provision of health support in 2020 through the organisation of the biggest medical outreach in the history of Kano State where over 5000 patients were treated; over 350 patients have undergone surgery including some victims of the 2014 Boko Haram Central Mosque bomb blast and renovated a lot of primary health care and also purchased millions of naira worth medical equipment.
Even as the above remarkable achievements have earned him another position of trust as the pioneer Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), he is not resting on his oars. Even in the midst of challenges, he has done s lot to set up a solid foundation for the new Commission.
His vision is to empower Nigerian kids, take them away from the streets and put them in classrooms where they will get quality education. By 2027, he plans to take 20m kids out of the streets. This is huge but it is doable.
Hon. Sharada has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he is capable of delivering on this task. What he needs now is the support of all and sundry to achieve his mission and vision.
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