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Kano Emirate, Maja Sirdi disagree over sack
By Mukhtar Yahay Usman
Officials of the Kano Emirate Council and Maja Sirdin Sarkin Kano, Alhaji Auwalu Idi have disagreed after the latter claimed to have been sacked by the former following his celebration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s victory at the election petition tribunal.
Media reports on Sunday have claimed that the Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II had ordered the sack of Mr Idi, for welcoming Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to Kano, following his victory at the election petition tribunal.
According to the report, Emir Sanusi was alleged to have asked Mr Idi to vacate his residence, located within the palace premises, which he has been occupying for more than 30 years.
Quoting sources, the news story further claimed that the monarch was angry with Maja Sirdi over his action, which he saw as an expression of “disloyalty”.
The report further asserted that Emir Sanusi had “warned against attending any government function which the Emir did not approve of.”
However, while Maja Sirdi insists that he has been removed from office and also asked to vacate his residence at Kofar Kwaru, the Chief of Staff to Emir Sanusi, Munir Sanusi has denied Mr Idi’s claim, saying the emirate only retrieved the keys to the royal stables from Maja Sirdi.
Speaking to Kano Focus, Mr Idi said he had been ordered by Shamakin Kano, Wada Jalo, on behalf of the emirate, to hand over the keys to the royal stables and to vacate his residence.
He said he was punished after he expressed support to Mr Ganduje, during a rally to celebrate the tribunal ruling affirming the victory of the governor.
“I attended the governor’s rally and even distributed water bottles to his supporters to show our happiness with Ganduje’s victory. I even decorated the governor with a robe at the event. But officials of the emirate council were not happy with my action and decided to punish me,” he said.
“After the rally, I was summoned by Shamaki, who asked me to go into the royal stables to count all the royal items inside them. After taking the inventory and finding everything intact, he demanded the keys to the stables and ordered me to vacate my residence immediately. I am now searching for a house before moving out,” he added.
But, Munir Sunusi, chief of staff to the Emir, denied the sacking of Maja Sirdi from his position.
He however, confirmed that the keys to the royal stables were retrieved from Maja Sirdi, after some saddles were stolen.
“I don’t know anything about claims of sacking Maja Sirdi. But we have retrieved keys from him after some of the Emir’s saddles were stolen. In fact, the Emir has nothing to do with this issue because Shamaki is the supervisor of Maja Sirdi and other courtiers.
“Shamaki took action because he had been receiving complaints about missing royal accessories for sometime. That is why he asked Maja Sirdi to handover his keys pending investigation. So, it does not make sense for anyone to claim that we sacked anybody just because he celebrated a governor,” he said.
“Nobody asked Maja Sirdi to leave his residence. He is still living in his house and still retains his position,” Mr Sunusi, who is also the Dan Majen Kano added.
Aminu Abdullahi
The adolescent girls initiative for learning and empowerment AGILE has been described as a major catalyst to educational development.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Emir of Rano, Alhaji Muhammad Isa Umaru, made the indication while receiving AGILE team in his palace.
According to him, Kano has witnessed significant progress in girl child education facilitated by AGILE, hence the need for traditional institutions and relevant stakeholders to contribute their quota to achieve the desired objectives.
He noted that, Rano Emirate has been at the forefront of ensuring enrollment retention and completion of girls education through various initiatives.
The emir called on the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) to upgrade the girls school in his community.
The monarch said, the school, located beside the palace, requires expansion to accommodate a larger number of students.
The traditional ruler suggested that AGILE should visit the school to assess its condition, saying that, relocating the school to a bigger location had been earlier considered.
In his remarks the permanent secretary Kano state ministry of education Alhaji Bashir Baffa explained that, they were at the palace to seek for support and blessings form the royal father.
He said, AGILE has fostered an enabling environment for girls through promoting behavioral changes through communication campaigns engagement with traditional rulers and advocacy.
He maintained that, the team has embarked on advocacy visits to all relevant stakeholders at community and state levels on the importance of girls education.
Alhaji Baffa hinted that the state government had declared a state of emergency on education, hence the need for the traditional institution to contribute its quota to achieve the desired objectives.
He posited that, the team will visit the school to see possible ways of intervening for the development of education.
The permanent secretary also used the opportunity to condole Rano emirate over the killing of its indigenes in Uromi.
KANO FOCUS reports that, earlier the team has paid a similar visit to Karaye Emirate council as part of efforts to advocate for support from the traditional institution and relevant stakeholders.
Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim
The Kano State Ministry of Education’s Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, supported by the World Bank, has successfully renovated over 1,300 senior and junior secondary schools in the state in the last three years.
KANO FOCUS reports that the state commissioner for education, Alhaji Ali Haruna Makoda, disclosed this during a visit to the Karaye Emirate on Tuesday.
He added that the AGILE program has enrolled more than 30,000 girls through targeted outreach, grants, and its Second Chance education initiative.
Makoda further revealed that the state government has finalized plan to construct 130 new schools in rural communities, with over 35,000 girls already benefiting from financial assistance under the scheme.
He urged the Karaye Emirate to lend full support to the program and prioritize girls’ education.
In his remarks, the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Muhammad Maharaz, pledged the emirate’s commitment to advancing girls’ education in Kano State.
He commended the state government and the commissioner for their dedication to the programme’s success.
“It is our collective responsibility to support this initiative,” the Emir stated, calling for measures to ensure beneficiaries complete their education with strong academic outcomes.
The commissioner’s delegation consist of the Kano State AGILE Project Coordinator, Malam Mujitapha Aminu and other members of State Programme Implementation Unit (SPIU).
Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim
Bayero University Kano (BUK) on Monday celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Faculty of Education and inaugurated its Alumni Association at the Convocation Arena of the university’s new campus.
KANO FOCUS reports that the event was graced by government officials, education stakeholders, and alumni all gathered to commemorate the faculty’s contributions to Nigeria’s educational sector.
In her keynote address, the State Minister for Education, Mrs. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad announced the Federal Government’s Sector Renewal Initiative designed to transition Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.
She highlighted that the aim of the renewal initiative consists of – Reducing the number of out-of-school children; combating learning poverty; nhancing skills development and human capital for the labor market
The minister noted that the initiative prioritizes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Digital literacy and education quality assurance.
Mrs. Ahmad disclosed that the Federal Government had disbursed ₦35 billion to 261 beneficiaries under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), with BUK among the top beneficiaries.
“So far, the scheme has received 420 applications, and we are scaling up investments,” she stated.
She further confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved ₦120 billion to boost TVET programs, with plans to train 650 youths in technical, vocational, and digital skills over the next two years.
Emeritus Professor Sani Ahmad Sufi, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, praised the faculty for its high-quality graduates.
“Our pride lies not just in the number of graduates produced yearly, but in their impact across Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
He added that the faculty has produced Nigeria’s largest pool of graduate teachers many of whom hold key positions nationally and internationally.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje applauded the faculty for its significant role in advancing education in Nigeria.
The event concluded with awards presented to distinguished alumni and supporters of the faculty in recognition of their contributions to its growth.
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