I am going back to university to teach, says sacked Minister of Educaton, Ruqayyatu Rufa’i

Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, who was among
the nine ministers relieved of their
positions by President Goodluck
Jonathan in a cabinet reshuffle on
Wednesday, says she will be going back
to the university to teach.
She, who handed over the affairs of the
education ministry to the Minister of State
in the ministry, Chief Nyesom Wike, as
directed by the president, told newsmen
that she would be going back to continue
with her job as a teacher.
Before her appointment as a minister,
Rufa’i was a professor of Curriculum
Studies at the Bayero University, Kano.
“I called you here to witness the handing
over because as you are all aware my
tenure as minister has expired along with
eight others.
“I am going back to resume my job as a
professor of Curriculum Studies at the
Bayero University Kano, that is where I
came from on secondment.
“We should know that a time like this will
come because if it does not, death is
surely an end.”
She expressed gratitude to the President
for the opportunity given her to serve as a
cabinet minister.
“I have enjoyed a close working
relationship with the President.
“Of course, there were times we had our
disagreements, but overall we enjoyed
working together.”
Rufa’i, who also thanked Wike and other
officials of the ministry for the support
she enjoyed during her tenure in the
ministry, tasked them not to relent in
achieving the sector’s goal of Access and
Quality.
In his remarks, Wike described Rufa’i's
exit as ”painful” but said that “when we
are not in control, there is nothing we can
do”.
He said because of the cordial working
relations between them, the two had
never been summoned by the president to
define their roles.
Wike thanked the former minister for her
good leadership.
“I therefore implore you, please do not
abandon the ministry, continue to give us
the advice you would have been giving if
you were here,” he said
Also in his remarks, the Permanent
Secretary in the ministry, Dr McJohn
Nwaobiala, said the change was ”like
being hit by a thunderbolt”.
Nwaobiala, who described Rufa’i as
totally different, pledged that the ministry
would build on the foundation she had
laid. (NAN)