TheCable

You are used to hearing “Boko Haram”, the anti-secular education slogan that has become the official name of the Abubakar Shekau-led insurgents shooting and looting in northern Nigeria.

Now what about the opposite: “Boko Dole” — or, in simple English, “education at all costs”?

Welcome to the world of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the governor of Sokoto state who recently declared that parents who fail to send their children to school will now risk imprisonment.

Appellations for politicians and leaders are not difficult to come by in Nigeria. At one time, people called President Muhammadu Buhari “mai gaskiya” (“man of integrity”). A few months ago, some decided to nickname him “Baba go slow” over his perceived slowness.

Nasir el-Rufai is now referred to as “Mai Rusau”, meaning “the demolisher” because of his unrelenting romance with the bulldozers, first as FCT minister and now as Kaduna governor.

Tambuwal has joined the league. While he and his handlers welcome the idea of him being identified with his traditional title of Mutawallen Sokoto, the people of the Caliphate state think otherwise.

Tambuwal has a new appellation: “Boko Dole”. Boko, the Hausa word meaning western education, comes from the English variation of the word book.‎ Boko as a Hausa word entered a league of infamy when it became the identity of Boko Haram.

“Boko Dole” , meaning “education at all costs” or “education by force”, gained prominence in Sokoto after ‎Tambuwal announced recently that any parent who refused to send his child to school will be liable to criminal offence. The policy has been described by many as revolutionary considering the reluctance of many to send their kids to schools in the north.

Following up on that pronouncement was Tambuwal’s decision to introduce monetary incentives to rural mothers who allow their female children to attend schools rather than take to hawking, a practise known as “talla”. He also introduced free bus ride to all kids going to school, employment of 500 teachers for public secondary schools, among other incentives to boost the critical sector.

From his campaign days to now, Tambuwal said the education sector remains his number one priority. With a new title of Boko Dole ‘freely’ given to him, the people of Sokoto, and all Nigerians, will hope the policy achieves its intended objectives.

As Mandela said, “education is the greatest weapon you can use to change the world”.