By Uzair Adam Imam
Over two thousand people, including university lecturers and students, graduated from the Engausa Global Technology Hub.
The graduates were trained in various skills ranging from science and technology.
The founder and chairman of the technology hub, Engr. Mustapha Habu Ringim, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday to mark this year’s United Nations World Teachers Day.
Engausa was founded in 2019 and registered in 2022 and recorded numerous successes in teaching people various scientific and technological skills to depend on themselves and become employers of labour.
Engineer Habu said English and other languages inhibit learning progress, especially in northern Nigeria.
He stated, “It doesn’t mean that we are not developed when we teach in our mother tongue. Knowledge can be taught using any language.
“Later, one can learn any other language he feels interested in, like English, Arabic or French.
“But it is not wrong to learn in your mother tongue, as many people perceive. For this reason, we, among others, admit even almajiri, who have no background in western education and are school dropouts, into Engausa Global Technology Hub and teach them in Hausa.
“Today, many such dropouts and almajiri have become teachers in Engausa. They even teach university graduates, MSc and PhD holders as well.”
We give emphasis on the practical aspect
Unlike in tertiary schools and other institutions of learning, the Engausa Global Technology Hub gives emphasis on practical aspects than theories.
This, however, enables the students to fully understand the subject matter rather than mastering theories and definitions of concepts.
Ringim added, “More than 90 per cent of what we do in Engausa is practical. The theoretical aspects do not exceed 10 per cent.”
Unemployment worsens insecurity in Nigeria
Ringim also argued that the rising insecurity in Nigeria is not unconnected with the high unemployment rate in the country.
Insecurity has been one of the ongoing challenges facing Nigeria, especially in the northern part, over the years.
He stated, “We need to know that teaching our youths some skills is one of the panaceas to the lingering security challenge in Nigeria. Therefore, society needs to welcome inventions of this sort.
Engausa is gaining global recognition and support from Federal Government and academics like Prof. Abdallah Uba Adamu, Prof. Hafizu Miko Yakasai, and Engr. Isa Musa Gumel, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, Dr Binta Usman, Dr Hauwa Muhammad Bagaje, among others.