By Abubakar Hassan
Barr. Mairam Kolo (2nd from right), in a group photograph with some dignitaries, during her investiture as fellow Chartared Institute of Management and Leadership (CIML), Kentucky, USA.
The Chartared Institute of Management and Leadership (CIML), Kentucky, United States of America (USA), has conferred a fellowship award on board member III of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Barr. Mairam Kolo.
Speaking at the investiture ceremony held in the board room of NSUBEB on Tuesday, the board chairman, Mallam Muhammad Baba Ibrahim, said the honour was for the entire NSUBEB family and not for Barr. Mairam only because at NSUBEB they are one big family.
He disclosed that on the board, Barr. Mairam occupied a sensitive position because her schedule of duty had to do with the practical aspects of managing basic education in the state.
The Chairman of NSUBEB revealed that the enrollment figure of schoolchildren under the board is about a million, and they are all under the care of Barr. Mairam, adding that the board has over 25,000 teachers who are under the teachers’ professional development department of the board, under the supervision of Barr. Mairam.
He further disclosed that the board has about 3,150 schools spread across the state, and the logistics of managing them to work efficiently fall on the shoulders of Barr. Mairam, saying the board would not have gotten to where it is today without the contribution of Barr. Mairam.
“If you want anything, you have to pay attention to some little details for it to be done, and the best person to call to do that is Mairam. Mairam has been doing a lot for us here, and we really appreciate her for that,” said the NSUBEB Chairman.
While appreciating Barr. Mairam for what she had been doing for the past seven months since they came on board, the chairman expressed optimism that more recognition would come her way.
He equally appreciated the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership for identifying and recognising Barr. Mairam’s contribution to humanity, saying, “Thank you for recognising what we have because we believe we have a real GEM, and we hope that through her inspiration and our collective contribution we will reposition basic education in Niger.”
Earlier in his remarks, the country director of the institute, Dr. Samuel Ojo, said the institute usually carries out research on the activities of any individual they want to recognise, adding that they found Barr. Mairam worthy to be part of them through her contribution to the advancement of children’s rights, girlhood, and empowerment.
He also observed that with her rich CV and the turnout of people from all walks of life who came to witness her investiture as a fellow of the institute, Barr. Mairam is a true leader and a good manager, which he said was the reason the institute also made her one of the board of trustees members of the institute in Niger State.
Dr. Samuel said her conferment as a fellow of the institute will spur her more to serve humanity with transparency and accountability, urging her to be a good ambassador of the institute, as he said the institute was proud to have her.
In her response, the celebrant, Barr. Mairam Kolo, appreciated the institute for recognising her as a fellow of the institute, saying she feels highly honoured and excited to be so recognised.
He revealed that it was a thing of joy that what she does for humanity was noticed by someone somewhere, leading to her conferment as a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership (CIML).
While appreciating the institute for the recognition, Barr. Mairam added that it will encourage her to do more for humanity, promising to be a good ambassador of the institute, and she appreciated all those who came from far and near to show solidarity with her.