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3 Kano journalists receive national awards
Three journalists from Kano state have received national awards for excelling intheir profession.
KANO TODAY reports that the three journalists are Abdulaziz Abdulaziz of the PREMIUM TIMES, Nasiru Salisu Zango of FREEDOM and DALA Radio stations in Kano, as well as Jaafar Jaafar of the DAILY NIGERIAN.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, an associate editor at PREMIUM TIMES won the Wole Soyinka award for investigative journalist of the year (online category) as well as investigative reporter of the year award.
Mr Abdulaziz won the award with a series of six reports which exposed the NYSC certificate forgery by the former finance minister, Kemi Adeosun.
The series led eventually to the resignation of the British born minister who held office with a fake NYSC exemption certificate.
Mr Abdulaziz, a Bayero University Kano graduate of English hails from Fagge local government area of Kano worked for the Leadership and Blueprint newspapers before joining PREMIUM TIMES.
Nasiru Salisu Zango, manager operations of DALA FM and presenter of FREEDOM FM’s popular Inda Ranka program receives an integrity award from the Youth Alive Foundation.
Mr Zango won the award for championing advocacy journalism and for his crusade against bribery and corruption in Kano.
The journalist, who is also a correspondent for DEUTSCHE WELLE Hausa service hails from Kano municipal local government and is a graduate of Mass Communications from Bayero University Kano.
Jaafar Jaafar, the Publisher/Editor-in-chief of DAILY NIGERIAN online newspaper also receives an Integrity award from the Youth Alive Foundation.
Mr Jaafar won the award for publishing a series of video clips exposing Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje stuffing dollars alleged to be bribes into his pocket.
The publisher has testified before the Kano state House of Assembly and has been sued by the governor for alleged defamation.
Jaafar Jaafar who hails from Fagge local government is a graduate of Mass Communications from Bayero University Kano.
He worked as a reporter with the DAILY TRUST newspaper and served as spokesperson to former Kano state governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso before establishing the DAILY NIGERIAN.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Home-based Super Eagles coach, Augustine Eguavoen has invited Kano Pillars legendary midfielder, Rabiu Ali, and 29 players for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers against Ghana.
KANO FOCUS reports that the 8th edition of the continental championship – reserved exclusively for footballers plying their trade with clubs in their country’s domestic Leagues with standard contracts – is scheduled to take place in February 2025 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Kano Pillars’ evergreen midfielder, Rabiu Ali, who has scored eight goals this season, is among the players called.
The 44-year-old Ali has been a key player for Kano Pillars this season alongside Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa.
Other Kano Pillars players invited are Aminu Adam Sani and Nelson Abiam.
All the invited players will arrive at the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State on Wednesday, 4th December 2024, where the team will train ahead of the first leg of the qualification fixture against Ghana’s Black Stars B, billed for the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, 22nd December.
The second leg will take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 28th December.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Isa Haladu, the director, Planning, Research and Statistics Office of the Kano State Ministry of Health, has emerged as the co-chairperson, representing the government in the Kano State Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM).
KANO FOCUS reports In a letter signed by Pharm Maimuna Yakubu, the Co-chair (CSOs) to Haladu, “the DPRS is recognized as the automatic Co-chairperson of KanSLAM.
“As a key player in this process, the DPRS’ office co-chairmanship will play an instrumental role in ensuring success of this partnership,” she said.
While officially presenting the letter to Haladu on Saturday at a KanSLAM review meeting at Joclarif Hotel in Zaria, Safiyanu Bichi a member of KanSLAM stated that Haladu’s emergence as the govt. co-chair will bring more development and opportunities for the SLAM.
In his remarks, the newly appointed government co-chairperson expressed his delight for being part of KanSLAM.
He stated that immediately he received the notification letter via email, he shared it with the Kano Commissioner of Health Dr Labaran Yusuf.
“I fully accept this responsibility and I am optimistic that this will facilitate in continuing the good work that KanSLAM has done in the past,” he said.
Haladu recalled how the SLAM transformed from Accountability Mechanism for Maternal and Child Healthcare in Kano State (AMMKaS) to KanSLAM, stressing that the SLAM is now enlarged and much more effective.
He added: “KanSLAM has contributed in the establishment of Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA), Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), and Kano State Health Trust Fund (KHETFUND) and I believe more achievements are on the way.”
KanSLAM is a coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Civil Servants and Journalists advocating for improved service delivery in human capital development sectors.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida has joined the Board of Directors of TMT advocacy body of the International Institute of Communications(IIC).
KANO FOCUS reports that currently serving as the EVC/CEO at NCC, Dr Maida plays a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape. Under his leadership, the NCC continues to advance connectivity, foster innovation, and promote a competitive and inclusive telecommunications industry.
Dr Maida’s career includes significant contributions to leading global organizations such as British Telecom, Cisco Systems, and EE Ltd. He was also a pioneering engineering team member at UbiquiSys Ltd, a groundbreaking small-cell technology startup acquired by Cisco Systems in 2013.
Prior to his current role, Dr Maida was the Executive Director of Technology and Operations at the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems PLC (NIBSS). There, he spearheaded the modernization of Nigeria’s central digital payments infrastructure, reinforcing its role as a critical enabler of the country’s financial ecosystem.
Dr Maida holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Bath, an MEng in Information Systems Engineering from Imperial College London, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship from the Cambridge Judge Business School.
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