• Ex-NUT president, Idris, Grade 2 teacher, now Kebbi gov, vows to take education to great heights
From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin-Kebbi
From a humble background to the teacher’s college where he earned a certificate as a Grade 2 teacher in the 1970s, the eagerness of Dr. Nasir Idris, former national president, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), aka Kauran Gwandu, to serve his people continued to propel him further. He eventually realised his “tall” dream when he was sworn in as governor of Kebbi State on May 29, 2023.
Right from his first day as a teacher at Ungurwar Model Primary School, in old Bunza Local Government, Kebbi State, now in Kalgo LG, Idris has cut a niche for himself, inculcated the habit of being a disciplined, hardworking teacher, serving his community.
Born on August 6, 1965, in Birnin Kebbi, Idris attended Dukku Primary School, Birnin Kebbi, between 1972 and 1979, before proceeding to Government Teacher College, Dogon Daji, in old Sokoto State, 1979 to 1984. Thereafter, he went to College of Education, Sokoto, between 1986 and 1989.
He attended Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, 1994 to 2003, and Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, 2006 to 2009, where he obtained an MBA. He was elected NUT zonal chairman, before being elected state chairman later. He was also elected as national treasurer, national president, state chairman of the NLC and national vice-president of NLC. He resigned, contested and was elected governor.
His headmaster at Ungurwar Model Primary School, in the 1980s, Alhaji Abubakar Argo Kuka, described him as a “dedicated, honest, friendly, always eager for success and clamouring for the best. The people are expecting Idris to perform miracles in transforming the state, including the education sector.”
He told The Education Report that Idris joined him in the school after three years and they spent five years together before he was promoted as supervisor in the old Bunza LG: “My house was not far from his house in Birnin Kebbi.
“Every day, I would go to his house with my motorcycle to pick him up and we would go to school together. That time, we had only three teachers in our school, I, Kauran Gwandu and a lady called Rabiat Muhammed Kalgo. She used to bring our breakfast for us because her mother was selling masa.
“He was a committed teacher, dedicated to his duty, very friendly and loving to the pupils. That was why he was elevated to the position of supervisor in former Bunza LG, now Kalgo LG. Our colleagues at the NUT also saw him as a good leader. They elected him as the zonal chairman, state chairman of NUT and, thereafter, he was elected as the state chairman of NLC.
“From that point, he continued to be elevated to high positions at the union level. He was elected as the national treasurer of the NUT, national president of NUT and deputy national president of NLC. He is a man of the people. He is a good person. One thing about him is that, he would never jettison any of his old friends. That is why we are all together with him.”
Immediate past chairman of NLC in the state, Halidu Umar Alhassan, a childhood friend of Idris, said: “Throughout his life, he has been struggling for teachers, NUT and NLC, for the betterment of his people. We attended the same primary school. He has continued to demonstrate good behaviour, exemplary character as a future leader. Kauran Gwandu is such a person who always champions the cause of bringing professionalism into teaching.
“When he was the NUT state chairman, he worked harder, mounted pressure on government to increase the salary of teachers. He was able to transform NUT to the most formidable union in Nigeria and in West Africa.
“It was during his tenure that retirement year of teachers was extended from 60 to 65 years. Kauran Gwandu is honest; his sincerity has continued to earn him support from different people. That is why, during his nomination as the governorship candidate of APC, all the labour leaders were in Kebbi State to campaign for him. Many people worked for him to win the governorship election, including opposition members, because they believed in him.”
State NUT chairman, Isa Umar, also a childhood friend of Idris, described him as a generous person, honest, dedicated to duty, friendly to children and always going for the best.
Murtala, former zonal leader of NUT of NUT, said: “He is a person that keeps all his old friends. Kauran Gwandu doesn’t have former friends, we are all together till now. It is only a person that is sincere, trustworthy, tolerant that could keep old friends from childhood till now. He is a straightforward person and trustworthy.
“Anytime Kauran Gwandu is broke, without something to give out, he would go into hiding because he finds it difficult not to help people. He is always uncomfortable to be with people who are seeking, help without anything to give them.
“That is why, when he was contesting, nobody, including opposition parties, had anything against him. He is a man of the people and no wonder our people are expecting him to perform miracles as the governor of the state.”
Governor Idris, at the inauguration, said: “The education sector will witness a positive revolution of high standards, with improved welfare for teachers and students. I am first of all a teacher and unionist, and teachers and workers will not suffocate under my watch.
“We shall reform the civil service, provide health care services, motivate our health personnel and build roads in our urban and rural areas so that people will reap the fruits of democracy which they planted and nurtured.”
He vowed lead an administration, which would “be just, fair as well give everyone a sense of belonging, hope and pride in oneness.”