Bajju Group in UK and Europe Launches Educational Fund for Kaduna

The newly formed Bajju UK and Europe Association has announced plans to set up an educational trust fund. This fund will provide scholarships for less privileged children in Bajju communities in Southern Kaduna.

The group stated that this initiative is part of a larger development plan. Bajju people in the UK and Europe want to support education, infrastructure, and cultural preservation in their home communities.

The association was officially launched on Saturday at Stretford Public Hall, Chester Road, Stretford, Manchester.

At the event, the association’s president, Nathaniel James, shared that the educational trust is a key focus for the new group. "One of the things that we want to do is we want to establish an educational trust," Mr James said. "Now, this is supposed to offer a scholarship to less privileged children."

The initiative aims to help the association go beyond just supporting individual family members. It will channel the combined resources of the Bajju diaspora into projects that will have a wider impact on the community.

Jummai Hamza, the chairman of the launch planning committee, noted that the association was formed because members felt they had the skills and resources to make a real difference back home. "So we want to advance. We want to develop. The government alone cannot do much for us. We have so much expertise amongst us in different spheres of society. We have the know-how, and we’re just sitting down, not really doing a lot."

Ms Hamza explained that the association would start projects on its own first, before seeking help from the government as needed. "The world is moving very fast, and that is why we think we can’t be grumbling aside and waiting for the government to come and do this and do that in our own little way."

"We will start, and then we will project it, and the government will see where we can’t go further, and they will step in and help us. So this is just for the development and advancement of our people."

She emphasized that the main focus is on communities in Nigeria, where members hear about the struggles of their relatives. "Primarily it’s for the projects back at home because here, yes, to God be the glory, it’s not like the way it is at home so we can manage, but our people are really struggling and it beats us so badly when we speak to them and they’re crying, lack of farm, lack of fertilizer, lack of road, lack of schools and everything."

Ms Hamza pointed out that the association wants to do more than just send occasional money to family members. "We sit down here, we say, no, we can’t sit down and fold hands and be sending them £10, £20 now and then. So we need to do something more concrete. So that’s the reason why."

Her vision for the association includes improving schools, bringing in more science teachers, and supporting infrastructure in Bajju communities. "By the grace of God, we want to see that we are beyond where we are now, back home. We are ahead of where we are now."

"So we want to see that our schools are of a high standard. We want to see more science teachers. We want to see more good roads in our area. We want to see our people in government because we have the capacity to get there."

"But this is a step up for us by the grace of God."

The new group grew out of a Bajju community organization in Manchester that has been around for about twenty years. Members said the Manchester community started with regular meetings to strengthen ties and promote welfare.

Dr James mentioned that Bajju people in different parts of the UK and Europe decided to form a larger association. "Some of us have been living in this country for more than 40 years. And we actually have not really had an association as a people."

"Some actually want to be part of the Manchester one. We said, 'No, let’s do a global one.' So we decided to put together the UK and Europe. So that is why we are here today."

The larger association started taking shape about two years ago after members created a Bajju UK and Europe WhatsApp group, which later grew into a wider network.

Mercy Maaji, the association’s treasurer, said preserving culture is another major goal, especially for younger Bajju people in Europe. "We want to promote our tribe. We don’t just want it to die just like that. And that is why the Bajju is our pride and our heritage."

"Because this Gen Z now, they don’t want to speak the language, and it’s dying. And we don’t want that to go down the drain."

She added that the association wants younger generations to understand their language, history, and roots. "So we want our children, even our great-grandchildren, to know about the language, to know that we exist, to know where they come from."

The Bajju, also known as Kajju, are mainly found in Southern Kaduna, with Jju as their native language. Zonkwa is the headquarters of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area and the center of the Bajju traditional institution.

Mr James also said the association is interested in the ongoing construction of a palace for the Bajju traditional ruler. They hope to support efforts to finish this project. "As of last year, it was supposed to be 800 million, but now, because of the cost of living, it’s actually increasing. They’ve done the first decking, so they’re just building, you know."

He mentioned that the association will keep engaging with the Kaduna State Government about the project.

The late Agwam Bajju I, Nuhu Bature, was the first monarch of the chiefdom after its creation in 1995. He was later elevated to first-class status and passed away in December 2021. His successor, Agwam Bajju II, Luka Kogi Yabwat, who currently heads the traditional institution, was present at the launch event in Manchester.