Attakwanyo is the largest ward in Gwadabawa local government area of Sokoto state. Despite the ward’s size, it boasts of only one primary school. Established since 1922, it is arguably the oldest school in Sokoto state. Classes take place about four times a year, or whenever the teacher comes. Very few people complete secondary school in Attakwanyo and only a
Hadiza Shehu is in primary two in Wababe Primary School, Dange-Shuni local government area of Sokoto state. She likes cooking and that is why she likes to read the Hausa book Mu Karanta! It has many pictures of food and she likes to point at them and name them with her sisters at home. This is not the only reason
Gyamzo Central Primary School in Toro local government area of Bauchi state has been a fixture in the community since it was built in 1947. Until recently, usage had declined. Today, this 69-year old school is vibrant again. In one class, children are singing “Old McDonald has a farm” and in another, they are repeating “Nana na nan” in Hausa
Hafsat Abdullahi is a 17-year old girl with a complicated past. She is enrolled in a learning center for girls in Ningi local government area of Bauchi state. She has been attending classes for five weeks and is now able to recognize and read the alphabets. A new world is opening to her. “I want to be educated but I
Tragic occurrences in Amina Musa’s family interrupted her education. Her mother fell ill and Amina was pulled out of school to take care of her. Amina thought it was only a temporary setback—but it took three years to nurse her mother back to good health. “Within that period, my elder sister got married at age 12 and I stayed at
These days, Aishat Sa’adu is full of giggles. She is enjoying her time at the learning center for adolescent girls in Misau local government area of Bauchi state. She recognizes the letters in the alphabet and can count from 1 to 100. These are major achievements for her. Aishat is a school dropout and at age 16 a divorcee. She
Seventeen-year-old Abdulsalam Adamu kept fleeing from education. His nemesis was peer pressure. When his parents enrolled him into school, he would abandon the classroom and instead enjoy the company of bad friends. They will move from place to place and end up anywhere else other than school. “We spent time playing on the farm, rolling tires on a major highway