Sen. Aliyu Wamakko’s 7 Years of Cruising Beyond Legislation (I), By Lawalli Amadu ‘Yar-Akija

“Our children must be educated. The education of the next generation is key to addressing numerous of challenges militating against societal growth, including insecurity and other social vices” Sen. Wamakko

“Wamakko is relentless in giving opportunity to the less-privileged students to study and fulfill their dreams” – Professor Mukhtar Bunza

“Wamakko is a Senator Without Borders. He touches the lives of the people far and near” – Mustapha Alkali

This piece is the first in the series of elucidating performances of Senator Alkiyu Magatakarda Wamakko in the seven years of his stay at the National Assembly (NASS). He is a senator of the Federal Republic who represents the good people of Sokoto North Senatorial District, comprised of Wamakko, Binji, Tangaza, Gudu, Kware, Silame, Sokoto South and Sokoto North local government areas. Beyond his contributions in many areas of socioeconomic and human development, this first will only highlight Wamakko’s intervention in the areas of education and electrification. His now primary responsibility – legislation, will take the last stage because we seek to show how uncommon Wamakko has been is doing more than he is expected to against the common norm found in many of his contemporaries in NASS.

Wamakko is an elixir for the common man and has been described as a ‘Senator Without Borders’ because he extends his assistance to people and communities outside his constituency. He is an embodiment of humility, humane, patience, joviality, accommodating, tolerating and respect. After his tenure as two-term governor of Sokoto state in 2015, Wamakko was elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whose ONLY constitutional duty is to make laws and perform oversight functions.

But beyond that, during his seven years as senator, Wamakko, an educationist per excellence and proprietor of North West University, has so far singlehandedly sponsored 245 students to 11 national and international universities and other higher institutions for which, as at April 2022, he cumulatively spent a whopping N719,913,227 million on students’ tuition fees, hostel accommodation, monthly allowances, medical and para-medical allowances, from his personal coffers. The students are drawn from all the 23 local government areas of Sokoto state – NOT his constituency alone. Many of these students are also sons and daughters of the less-privileged in Sokoto state and beyond. Wamakko enjoy doing this because making people happy also makes him happy.

The universities, which list is not exhaustive, include University of Lahore in Pakistan, Maryam Abacha University, Maradi in Niger Republic, ISFOP University in Benin Republic, Crown Hill University, Ilorin Kwara State, Alhikma University, Ilorin, Sudan Academy for Aviation Sciences and Technology, Dialog Computer Institute, Kaduna, Biga College of Education Sokoto, Lead City University Ibadan, National Water Resources Institute Mando Kaduna, National Defense Academy (NDA) Kaduna, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto and Accra Institute of Technology, Ghana.

So far, the institutions and amount of money expended are as follows: University of Lahore in Pakistan, N163,076,727; Maryam Abacha University, Maradi in Niger Republic, N161,960,000; ISFOP University in Benin Republic, N96,340,000; Crown Hill University, Ilorin Kwara State, N61,882,800; Alhikma University, Ilorin, N105,045,000; Dialog Computer Institute, Kaduna, N40,350,000; Biga College of Education Sokoto, N16,188,000; Lead City University Ibadan, N72,490,700; National Water Resources Institute Mando Kaduna, N2,580,000; National Defense Academy (NDA) Kaduna (the number of students and amount spent on students sponsored by Wamakko to NDA was being computed as at the time of publishing this report.

Described as Senator without Borders, who is also an award-winning personality, a visionary leader, a mentor and a world-class scholar, Sen. Wamakko’s philanthropism has been adjudged as ‘sterlingly’ excellent and quality of representation at the Senate is unequalled among his contemporaries. He has remained one of the most respected and influential Senators as well as key pillar in the National Assembly.

In order to see the joy of the students on their faces, Wamakko, in January 2022, personally issued 100 international students their certificates of completion, which were variously awarded first, second and third degrees in various fields by the University of Lahore Pakistan, Maryam Abacha American University Maradi, Niger Republic and ISFOP University, Benin Republic. All the sponsored students underwent various courses at National Certificate of Education, National Diploma, Higher National Diploma, Degree, Masters and P.hD levels.

Other education-related constituency projects undertaken by Wamakko from 2019 to date

Wamakko has constructed and equipped Modern ICT Centre at Sokoto Teachers College; reconstructed Sokoto Teachers College Hall, constructed one block of three classrooms at Sanyinnawal, in Shagari local government area; constructed one block of three classrooms at Bachaka in Gudu local government area; constructed three blocks of classroom at Fanare Town in Wamakko local government; constructed mini ICT Hub for research and development at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto; constructed wireless cloud Internet at College of Agriculture in Wurno local government area; constructed School Knowledge Centre at Government Secondary School, Shuni in Dange/Shuni local government area; Digital awareness programme at Government Secondary School, Sabon Birni in Sabon Birni local government area; provided 200 palm tabs to Government Day Secondary School, Wamakko; provided 200 palm tabs to Government Day Secondary School, Kashin Kadangare; provided 250 palm tabs to Government Day Secondary School, Silame; provided 100 desktops to Government Girls College of Islamic Sciences, Shuni in Dange/Shuni local government and provision of 100 desktops to Shehu Shagari Staff Secondary School, Sokoto.

North West University

Because of Wamakko’s love for education, he has established the North West University and the National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted provisional license to operate as a private university in Nigeria.

Electrification

“Our communities must enjoy electricity, even if government is not ready to provide” – Wamakko

Relatedly in the area of electricity, Senator Wamakko has personally provided communities with solar energy as well as electricity transformers, especially where government has failed to.

For instance, he provided 50 solar-powered street light to government-owned Orthopedic Hospital at Wamakko; 40 to Government Day Secondary School Wamakko; 50 to NYSC Orientation Camp at Wamakko; 20 to Kware Comprehensive Health Centre; 20 to Amanawa Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dange/Shuni local government; 50 to Government Day Secondary School Silame and some selected Islamiyya schools as well as Primary Healthcare Centre in Silame local government; 50 to Tangaza, Gidan Madi and Tungar Tsoro in Tangaza local government; 60 to Kware town, Hamman’ali and Ummarumma and 30 to Lagau and Kaurar Kimba towns of Wamakko local government.

Provision of transformers to communities

Senator has developed the habit of providing transformers to communities that have issues with existing once, even without their asking for it.

Overtime, he has provided and installed 500KVA transformers to Kofar Kware, Helele; Galadanchi Area; Gidadawa Area (along Diori-Hamani Road); Rujin Sambo Area; Masallacin Shehu in Sokoto North local government; Badon Barade; Assada Area; Dundaye Area; Badon Mangoro Area, Kware town and many other communities.