As education continues to face challenges with the growing number of out-of-school children, ranging from those affected by insecurity, abject poverty, religious and ethnic beliefs, environmental disasters, and climate change-related issues, a Kaduna-based, humanitarian, Dauda Baban Yara, committed to supporting the schoolchildren of LEA Badiko, in the Kaduna South local government area of Kaduna state, northwestern Nigeria.
The selfless Baban Yara, who is known for crossing schoolchildren, especially those from disadvantaged families, instals hope for education and motivates parents and schoolchildren to pursue education against all odds
No country will succeed without providing basic education to its younger generation. Baban Yara, who spent more than a decade crossing hundreds of schoolchildren on the Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway in Kaduna, revealed to Daily Episode that he believes education remains the key to transforming the future of every child and the country.
According to him, I observe how motorists run at high speeds on this highway, and many children narrowly escape being hurt, killed or injured every day.
So the danger I saw the children encountering prompted me to be supportive by assisting them in crossing the highway.
However, I conduct my business right next to where the schoolchildren cross this highway every day, and as such, I challenge myself to support their education by crossing the highway in the morning and after school hours in the afternoon, despite my schedule and business activities.
Although we were about three in number when we started, the rest neglected the humanitarian service for reasons known to them, and that’s how I continued selflessly.
Challenge and Joy
I have been encountering a series of challenges. They are even beyond mentioning, but best wishes and prayers offered by parents of the schoolchildren and people are one reason I can’t quite.
Recently, I suspended these activities because of the negative comments about my personality, but because I believed the almighty would compensate me, I continued without boundaries.
However, the children enjoyed and always appreciated my efforts because whenever I was off the highway, they searched for me, and even when I was sick, they usually checked on me too.
But for the sake of the safety and lives of the schoolchildren, my old age, sickness, and death, I will appeal to the government to construct a pedestrian bridge for these schoolchildren.
Constructing a pedestrian bridge and providing other utilities such as sign tools will help not only the schoolchildren but the general public, especially women and the elderly. He continued
I am a human. I may sometimes not be available, and only a few people can offer to help in crossing the schoolchildren.
Therefore, if the government can provide, it will ease the risk as motorists will adhere to the rules, especially when standard safety tools are provided.
You can bear witness to how I manage with these tools and control motorists on this highway. It’s ungrateful and regrettable to narrate that most of the tools I provided were constantly stolen, so I will need such support for smoother service.
While asked if the government has ever recognised his efforts, Baban Yara further disclosed to Daily Episode that the government has never recognised or given him a dime, not to mention that even the safety tools he needed were never provided.
I provided the tools you see in myself, only that prayers and best wishes by the parents of the schoolchildren motivated me always.
I always feel honoured by the prayers and best wishes. Most importantly, the joy I see in the children whenever I cross them is the most honourable moment in my life.
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