Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe and chair of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, says education is the panacea to most of Nigeria’s challenges.

The Etsu Nupe spoke on Thursday in Bida at a reception for a newly promoted Arabic scholar, Shegu Abdulraman-Aboki, at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

The ceremony also witnessed the wedding of his daughter, with Etsu Nupe as the special guest of honour.

Etsu Nupe, represented by the Gafaka Nupe, Abdullahi Umaru-BanNachi, said education, if given the required attention and funding, would provide the way out of the country’s problems.

He noted that there was a need for all the critical stakeholders in the education sector to do the needful to reverse the utter neglect.

Mr Abubakar also appealed to parents in the country to strive to send their wards to both Western and Islamic schools. He said this would empower them with the requisite knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully to societal development.

The traditional ruler emphasised the need for Muslim parents to always support their children in ensuring they acquired both Islamic and Western education to become good citizens and be proud.

The traditional ruler reminded parents that God Almighty had directed them to do everything possible to give their children sound Islamic and Western education and a good moral upbringing.

Mr Abubakar also advised newly married couples to adopt three core values to make their matrimony tick and enviable and urged couples to show understanding, patience and love to build a peaceful and successful home.

The ruler said marriage would only be successful with tolerance, patience, understanding and love, among other good attributes.

(NAN)