By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The Senate President in the 8th National Assembly, Dr Abubakar Olubukola Saraki, on Sunday, commissioned a multi Billion Naira ICT Center, built and equipped by the gubernatorial candidate of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 general elections, Usman Adamu Suphi, in Azare, headquarters of Katagum LGA of Bauchi State.
While commissioning the edifice, Abubakar Olubukola Saraki who was represented by a former Ag National Chairman of the PDP, Kawu Baraje, expressed happiness over the development and congratulated the people of Katagum and Bauchi State for having a great son like Usman Adamu Suphi.
Abubakar Saraki said that, Everybody knows him to be the advocator of youths empowerment and education, saying, “Therefore, for me, today is an honor. And therefore, for me to have somebody like His Excellency Usman Adamu Suphi very close to my heart, and he has done this today, is somebody that I will ever continue to praise God for.”
He further expressed his sincere gratitude to Alhaji Usman Adamu Sufi for his foresight, for his guidedness, for his capacity, for his knowledge, for the love of his people that God Almighty Allah has granted him to come up with this idea.
He said that you know that Bauchi State is a cradle of knowledge, cradle of education, I am not surprised that Adamu Suphi has established this Centre. I am very much grateful for that and thanking, and wishing him more graceful years ahead.”
Abubakar Saraki charged the youths to own the facility and put it to optimum use, saying that, “This project established by Usman Adamu Sufi is for you. Therefore, you must make the best of it. You must regard it as your own. You must guide it. You must protect it. You must use it to advantage. Therefore, this is part of your future, and I wish you a very successful future in the endavour.”
Finally, he said that the people of Bauchi, knows that Bauchi is a PDP state, right from the onset. And therefore, to find somebody like Usman Adamu Sufi coming up this time around with this project can only be found in one party, and that party is PDP.
According to him, “Somebody who is not in power yet, and he has come up with this project, you can imagine what he will do for you when he gets into power. Therefore, all of youths in Bauchi and in Katagum in particular to spread the gospel of PDP more and more, and that, in Sha Allah, come January 2027, we are coming back here for the swearing-in of Usman Adamu Suphi as the next Governor of the State.”
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, Abdulrahman Mohammed, “Today is not merely a day of political gathering, it is a day of purpose, progress, and testament to the visionary leadership style of the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Usman Adamu Ahmed.”
According to him, “We are gathered here to witness a commissioning truly transformative project, the state-of-art ICT project, conceived, funded, and delivered by our party gubernatorial candidate of Bauchi State, Honorable Usman Adamu Ahmed Sufi. On behalf of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, and the entire membership of the People’s Democratic Party nationwide, we express my heartfelt congratulations to Alhaji Usman Adamu Sufi for executing this gigantic developmental project.”
The National Chairman who was represented by the Deputy National Chairman, North, Deputy National Chairman (North), Yusufu Akirikwen (SAN); said, Honorable Usman Adamu Suphi, constructing and equipping this modern center, you have demonstrated that leadership is not just being a political office or about making lofty promises. It is about taking concrete, impactful actions that directly elevate the lives of our people.”
He added, “You have clearly shown the people of Bauchi State that what a PDP administration under your stewardship will prioritize, good empowerment, technological advancement, and more capital development.”
According to him, “We live in a world governed by digital economy. The traditional pathway to employment and wealth creation are rapidly shifting. Today, a young man or a woman sitting right here in Azare, armed with the right digital skills, internet connectivity, and possessions, can compete with peers in London, in UK, and in Tokyo.”
He stressed that,”ICT knowledge is no longer a luxury. It is an absolute necessity that includes blockchain opportunities in software development, data analysis, cyber security, digital marketing, and artificial intelligence, allow our youths to work remotely, secure on global gigs, and earn a dignified living.”
He added that,”For entrepreneurship, ICT provides young people with the tools to build their own tech startups, scale small businesses, and become employers of labor, rather than perpetual job seekers. For employability, in every modern sector, finance, agriculture, education, or healthcare, digital literacy is primarily prerequisite for career growth.”
According to him,”This ICT center, is the foundation ladder of our young people to climb into the future, it is a factory skills, an incubator for innovation, and gateway to internet opportunity. Beyond individual career, advancement and technological adoption is the bedrock of society.”
The PDP National Chairman added that, “Advancement in the learning literate community is a progressive community, in social economic growth by training thousands of youths in Katagum and across Bauchi State. This center will stimulate local commerce, reduce youths unemployment, and lift families out of poverty.”
He concluded that, “When young minds are constructively engaged, learning and earning through technology, adult times vanishes and social biases drastically decline. What Honorable Usman Adamu Ahmed Suphi has done today, is a clear showcase of People’s Democratic Party’s core ideology, putting the welfare and development and future of the people first. To the wonderful youths of Azare and Bauchi, this facility belongs to you. Take charge to take full control and ownership of this center. Protect it, utilize it effectively, and continuously build your capacity. Turn the knowledge you gain here into solutions and transform Bauchi and Nigeria at large.”
In his remarks, the PDP gubernatorial candidate and facilitator of the ICT Center, “Today marks another significant milestone in our collective pursuit of knowledge, empowerment and sustainable community development. This ICT and CBT Centre is not merely a physical structure; it’s is a symbol of hope, opportunity and our unwavering belief that the greatest investment any society can make is in the education and empowerment of its people.”
According to him, “It is about 500-seater capacity with each seat equipped with a brand-new laptop, LAN and other accessories that are essential for CBT. The centre is designed to adapt to the dynamic changes and continuous innovations of the digital world and to improve the exposure of students within the community and its environs.”
He added that, “The future belongs to societies that embrace knowledge, innovation and technology. Our objective is to ensure that the young people of Azare, Bauchi State and beyond are not spectators in the digital revolution but active participants and future leaders.”
“Through this center, thousands of students will access computer-based examinations with confidence. Young men and women will acquire digital skills, professional certification and emerging technology competencies that will prepare them for productive careers and entrepreneurship,” he added.
The PDP gubernatorial candidate further said, “This project reflects the guiding philosophy of the Assufiyya Humanitarian Foundation, that service to humanity is the highest form of leadership. While governments carry enormous responsibilities, sustainable development flourishes when communities, philanthropists and institutions complement public efforts.”
He then expressed profound appreciation to everyone whose support, encouragement and prayers contributed to making the vision a reality, saying, “We remain committed to expanding our interventions in education, healthcare, humanitarian assistance and youths development.”
He concluded, “As we commission this centre today, I invite governments, educational institutions, corporate organizations and development partners to join us in building a future where every young person has the opportunity to realize his or her full potential.”
According to him, “Together, we can transform communities. Together we can shape destinies. Together, we can build a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.”
Giving an overview of the Centre, the facilitator from Inception, Garba Haruna, said, “This project was born out of the desire of the promoter to provide ease to our teaming youths and students who are writing computer-based tests and examinations. Before this project, mostly, our students from Bauchi North, traveled to Misau, Bauchi, and even Abuja to write their CBT exams. But it is the desire of the promoter of this project, Alhaji Usman Ademu Mohammed Sufi, to ease that hardship and to bring Sako to the people, to the students and their parents.”
He added that,”That is why he conceived this project out of sympathy and he executed it with empathy. This facility has the capacity of hosting 500 students at a time. And this is by the side. We have other halls that can hold workshops, seminars, and trainings for students and even non-governmental organizations, employees, and civil servants alike.”
Garba Haruna said, “You know, CBT examinations are seasonal. So even after the examinations, we cannot leave an edifice like this to stay fallow, to stay idle. So we are going to collaborate with some of the higher institutions, we have neighboring this region like Federal University, Duse, like Federal University of Science, Health Sciences Azare, and other tertiary institutions, so that we can roll out courses in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other IT courses that are in vogue, that are what it obtains now in the world over.”
He commended the host community, for the cooperation and support shown since the foundation laying for the centre saying, “Even before completion, we have seen a lot of enthusiasm from the community, and we have seen a lot of goodwill messages, and they have been asking when will this edifice be put into use. So the community, they are very, very eager to see that this facility is put into proper use. And into proper use, it will be put soon.”
He commended Usman Adamu Suphi for embarking on the project saying, “To the person who provided this project, my message to him is, we need people like him. And to him in person, we only say more grease to his elbows. Because this is someone who is not already in power, who has not held any government position, but he can conceive and execute a project of this magnitude. I can only say the people of Bauchi State, they are lucky to have a person like him offering himself for service. They shouldn’t miss out on this opportunity.”
He assured that the project is going to be run as a private concern with a competent management to look at the day-to-day affairs of the Institution stressing that,”But it is going to be highly subsidized, unlike what is obtained in other buildings and other institutions of this nature. We are going to see how we can bring in ease to our students and their parents when we are fully operational.”
The main CBT hall with 500 laptops
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