Emir Sanusi wants Mosques converted to primary schools

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has called on governors of northern states to convert mosques to primary schools, especially in the villages.

The emir made the call in his remarks at an event in the Kano Educational Week programme.

“I was in Morocco sometimes ago and I asked to see their universities. They took me to mosques where I saw each serving as classrooms teaching Computer Science and other subjects,” he said.

Mr. Sanusi said mosques were not initially meant for prayers alone.

He said historically, mosques were also used for other things like marriages, scholarly activities and leadership trainings.

He urged the northern state governors who have many mosques to return to the practice so as to save money for other needs.

The Emir said if the idea was adopted, funds allocated to building schools could be channeled to training of teachers and providing for their welfare and other teaching instruments.

At the event, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, said the state government spent over N30 billion last year on salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff of schools in the 44 local councils of the state.

He said the programme being conducted was for the graduation of 2,500 teaching staff with National Certificate of Education and postgraduate diploma in education.

The governor said the state hoped to produce over 25,000 qualified teachers in Kano through the new initiative by next year.