Residents of Bugau community in Damau Ward, Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have appealed to the state government for urgent intervention over severe infrastructure shortages and lack of agricultural support.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Ibrahim Adamu of Bugau, a community leader, said the town’s lack of modern social amenities and government backing continues to hinder its socio-economic progress.
He disclosed that the ancient settlement, home to more than 6,000 residents, struggles to meet growing demand for adult and female literacy programmes initiated by local community groups and international non-governmental organisations.
“Our women are eager to learn, but we lack basic teaching environments. Truthfully, there is a problem regarding the learning and teaching environment for these sisters of ours to get an education,” Ibrahim said.
The community relies on a single primary school and has no secondary school, forcing many local children, especially girls, to drop out. Those who attend secondary school trek 10 kilometres daily to neighbouring Damau town.
Ibrahim appealed to the Kaduna State Ministry of Education to construct a secondary school in Bugau, build dedicated adult learning centres, expand primary school infrastructure and supply essential instructional materials.
He also urged authorities to provide stipends for volunteer youth tutors, noting that financial pressures and peer discouragement threaten to undermine ongoing educational efforts.
“We have one of our own who volunteered to teach married adolescent and adult women in the community. But his friends mock him, asking why he is wasting time when others went to the farm and made money. Providing a small incentive will motivate him to stay and continue helping us,” Ibrahim stated.
On agriculture, he called on state extension services to assist local farmers with modern marketing skills, financial management training and post-harvest handling to maximise crop yields and boost rural incomes.
“Look, we are farmers in this town; there is agriculture, but knowing how to market and manage farm produce is another challenge entirely. Without economic knowledge, you end up losing money,” he noted.
He urged elected officials to complement the interventions of development partners such as the Malala Fund by delivering permanent educational facilities, motorable roads and institutional support to the historically resilient agricultural community.
