A former governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano during the 2023 general elections, Malam Inuwa Waya, has expressed strong concern over the increasing exploitation of young people as political thugs in the state—a trend he described as dangerous and deeply troubling.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday in Kano, over an open letter he wrote recently titled ‘’ The Power elite, problems and solutions to Kano State development”,  Waya condemned the practice, accusing politicians of manipulating vulnerable youth with drugs and false promises to incite violence for political gains.

He stressed that these same politicians would never expose their own children to such dangers, highlighting the hypocrisy and irresponsibility fueling the crisis.

“If we truly want to see meaningful development in Kano State, then politicians must stop recruiting youths as thugs,” he declared. “I am certain they would never allow their own children to engage in such criminal activities.”

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Waya linked this disturbing trend to the rising number of out-of-school children in Kano. Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics, he noted that over one million children are currently out of school in the state—a number that grows significantly when school dropouts are included.

‘’Many of these marginalized children, he said, end up as street urchins who are easily lured into political violence. Under the influence of drugs and cash inducements, they become tools of destruction and proudly adopt deviant labels such as Yan Jagaliya.

He further explained that the damage extends beyond physical violence. Some youths who have acquired only basic education are recruited into what he termed “online thuggery,” where they are given cheap phones and minimal data stipends to insult, harass, and defame political opponents on social media. Rather than nurturing critical thinking or creativity, these youths are indoctrinated with hate, targeting elders and reformers attempting to rescue them from cycles of poverty and manipulation.

SolaceBase reports that this crisis, Waya argued, is rooted in the broader decay of Kano’s education system. He attributed the sector’s collapse to the widespread employment of unqualified teachers and the politicization of appointments, which has stripped schools of professionalism and quality.

Reflecting on his own educational background, Waya reminisced about a time when Kano’s schools were among the best in the country. “Between 1976 and 1978, when I was in Forms One and Two, most of my teachers were highly qualified expatriates from the UK, Canada, and Australia,” he recalled. “Later, we also had professionals from Asia, the Middle East, the Philippines, and Jamaica.”

Back then, he said, the educational system was holistic and well-resourced. Students enjoyed access to sports facilities, guidance counseling, well-stocked libraries, and fully equipped science laboratories. Learning materials such as textbooks, exercise books, and writing supplies were provided free of charge, while school fees remained affordable. Most secondary schools operated as boarding institutions, offering three meals a day, laundry provisions, and uniforms—including undergarments—at no cost.

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‘’Public libraries like the Kano State Library and the British Council Library provided additional learning support. Girls’ schools and teacher training colleges were well-catered for, ensuring gender equity in access to quality education. Examination fees were fully covered by the government, and successful students were seamlessly enrolled into tertiary institutions without favoritism or bribery.

‘’Waya recalled that the state’s prosperity extended beyond education. Kano was once a powerhouse in agriculture, with land allocated for farming, grazing, and irrigation through dams and river basins. The Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency (WRECA) efficiently managed water supply to about 80% of households and even provided consultancy to other states and neighboring countries. Kano not only fed Nigeria but also exported agricultural products to other West African nations.

However, this era of prosperity began to decline in the mid-1980s, Waya lamented. As the older generation of selfless public servants retired, leadership was passed to a younger elite more interested in self-enrichment than service. This shift resulted in misplaced priorities, concentration of wealth, and poor governance, which gradually eroded public institutions.

“In education, the government could no longer retain expatriate teachers. Funding was slashed, incentives withdrawn, and boarding schools shut down,” he said. “Facilities fell into disrepair, science labs became empty, and libraries were looted. With low salaries and no clear career path, teachers lost morale.”

This collapse, he argued, opened the floodgates for the rise of unregulated private schools that prioritized profit over quality education. According to Waya, today’s teachers are often hired based on political loyalty rather than merit, while many commissioners of education lack any relevant background or experience.

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He painted a grim picture of the current state of public schools in Kano, describing them as crumbling structures where students sit on bare floors without textbooks, furniture, or learning aids. Without immediate intervention, he warned, the entire system could collapse.

“Education must be prioritized at all levels of government,” he said. “We need a comprehensive overhaul, not patchwork reforms.”

To rebuild the sector, Waya proposed a wide-ranging set of reforms: comprehensive renovation of school infrastructure, recruitment and continuous training of competent teachers, revitalization of vocational institutions to produce skilled artisans, and proper funding of tertiary institutions such as state universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

He also emphasized the importance of offering foreign scholarships only for courses not available locally, as well as recognizing and supporting outstanding students. Additionally, he called for the revival of adult literacy programs, particularly for elderly citizens, to promote inclusive development.

Waya added that with a strong warning, unless Kano reinvests in its youth and education system, the state risks losing its future to poverty, violence, and misgovernance.