The Niger Christian Youth Forum (NCYF) has commended Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for his decision to reintroduce Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) into public schools across Niger State, a move the group described as bold and long overdue.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the forum praised the governor for taking a step that previous administrations had been reluctant to undertake. They hailed the reintroduction of CRK as a positive development aimed at promoting moral values, fostering mutual respect, and enhancing interfaith understanding among students.
“This is a commendable decision by Governor Bago, and we recognize it as a reflection of his commitment to inclusive governance and his dedication to promoting unity among the diverse religious and ethnic communities in our state,” said Joshua Ndace, spokesperson for the NCYF. “For too long, previous administrations have avoided such a vital step, but the current administration has shown the courage to address this critical gap in our educational system.”
The NCYF, however, urged the governor to take further action to ensure the effective implementation of the policy. Specifically, they called for the recruitment of qualified CRK teachers to adequately teach the subject in public schools. The group emphasized that many public schools have been without dedicated CRK teachers for several years, which has led to the marginalization of the subject despite its significance.
“We urge the governor to take the next critical step by authorizing the recruitment of qualified CRK teachers. Without professional teachers, the objectives of this policy cannot be fully achieved. It is essential that skilled educators are deployed to nurture the spiritual and moral development of our children,” Ndace added.
The forum also appealed to the Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders to expedite the process of implementing the teaching of CRK in schools across the state. The NCYF expressed confidence that the Bago administration would continue to prioritize policies that promote equity, inclusion, and spiritual growth for all citizens of Niger State.
With this move, the NCYF hopes that the governor’s decision will set a positive precedent for other states to follow, leading to the reinforcement of religious education and its contributions to character development in Nigerian public schools.
