Convert mosques to schools, Sanusi tells northern governors.

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi II has advised northern governors to convert some of the mosques in the region to primary schools in order to boost the acquisition of western education by their people.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony of 2,500 Post Graduate Diploma and NCE teachers on day three of the Kano Basic Education week on Tuesday, Sanusi said that the measure would save cost and boost education in the north.

“If you look at our educational needs viz a viz the infrastructure deficit, it has become imperative to convert existing mosques to primary schools, and aside cost reduction in this era of recession, it would accelerate education development in the region,” he said.

He added that since the mosques were not always in use, converting them to schools would help to bring education closer to the door steps of the people.

“It is not all the time that we pray and these utilities remain idle for the better part of the day. It will be highly rewarding if we convert them to learning institutions as obtains in other climes.

“When you convert these mosques to institutions of learning in your domain, you simply bring education to the door steps of citizens at less cost."

However, elder statesman, Dr Junaid Mohammed has dismissed Sanusi's suggestion, describing it as mischievous and unworthy.

“Ordinarily, I won’t dignify the statement credited to the Emir with any response because the Emir talks from both sides of his mouth. Though, I agree that there are too many mosques all around and more functional schools need to be built, I don’t think converting a mosque or church to school is what will solve the problem.

“I believe the issue of millions of beggars on streets in the North is what should have formed the basis of discussion and not the issue of converting mosques to schools," he said.