By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Dr. Jamila Dahiru, former Commissioner for Education in Bauchi State, has been honored with the Distinguished Innovative Leadership Award in recognition of her pioneering efforts in promoting digital transformation and policy innovation within Northern Nigeria’s education sector.

The award was presented at the EduNorth Summit, held over the weekend in Kaduna. The event, themed “Attaining International Educational Standards in Northern Nigeria,” was jointly organized by the Kaduna State Ministry of Education and Speedy Educational Consults.

While receiving the award, Dr. Dahiru advocated for the adoption of locally developed digital solutions to promote inclusive and adaptive learning across the region. She emphasized that integrating indigenous languages into global technologies is key to bridging educational gaps and boosting global competitiveness.

“The region has an opportunity to adopt modern technologies for local use by focusing on indigenous languages and their relative applications within digital platforms,” she said. “With the right policies and funding, home-grown solutions can be embedded into digital learning systems to make education more accessible and relevant.”

A lecturer and education policy advocate, Dr. Dahiru also stressed the need for data-driven policymaking and sustained stakeholder advocacy to support long-term reforms in the education sector.

Speaking at the summit, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Muhammad Sani Bello, described the event as a timely intervention aligned with the state’s ongoing education reforms. Represented by the Deputy Director of Planning in the Ministry, Mallam Shehu Abbas, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partnering with credible organizations to expand access to quality education.

In his remarks, Prof. Yahaya Saleh Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Scholarships and Loans Board, reflected on the historical relevance of the Ajami education model in Northern Nigeria. He lamented the sector’s decline due to insecurity, poor infrastructure, and socio-economic challenges, and proposed the establishment of a Northern innovation hub to revive the system through international collaboration.

The summit brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including representatives from the National Assembly, state and local governments, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and development partners—all committed to reimagining the future of education in the region.