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Year in Review: Major Kano education stories in 2019
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The outgoing year 2019 certainly recorded major events in the education sector of Kano state. Issues like sexual harassment in tertiary institutions, declaration of free and compulsory education by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje as well as abolition of the HND/Degree dichotomy in public service by the Kano state government dominated public discussions in the sector.
Below are some of the issues picked by Kano Focus:
Sexual harassment in tertiary institutions
A number of students in Kano tertiary institutions have experienced the pains of sexual harassment in the hands of staff, particularly academic ones, working in the affected institutions.
In August, a magistrate court remanded the Vice Principal of School of Health Technology Bebeji in prison for five days over allegations of sexually harassing a married student.
The suspect Mas’ud Abdullahi, who had completed his PhD and was about to join the staff of Federal University Dutse, allegedly demanded sex from the student in exchange for marks even though he was aware that she was married.
Mr Abdullahi was arraigned before Magistrate Aminu Fagge, who later granted him bail and released his ID card and vehicle which was confiscated as exhibits.
The court however refused the request to release the mobile phone of the suspect, saying it contained evidence of Mr Abdullahi’s romantic messages sent to the victim.
Another lecturer, Ali Shehu, working with the Kano School of Technology, was also arrested during a sting operation while he reportedly inserted his fingers in the private parts of his female student, whom he had pestered for sex.
Mr Shehu, 36, was arraigned at Kano Chief Magistrates Court and later remanded in prison custody after pleading guilty to the charges of breach of trust and sexual harassment, offenses that contradict sections 95 and 98 of the penal code.
However the Kano State Polytechnic disowned the suspect.
Reacting to the development, registrar of the Polytechnic, Ado Mohammadu expressed shock on the incidence and told journalists that the accused was not a staff of the institution.
The registrar clarified that thought, Shehu was posted from the office of the Head of Service, Kano state on a part-time job with the Polytechnic.
Kwankwaso offers foreign scholarship to 370 First Class graduates
The Kwankwasiyya Development Foundation, in Kano offered foreign scholarship to 370 postgraduate students to study in universities in India and Sudan.
Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, the founder of the foundation and former governor of Kano state, made the disclosure at a send-off party for beneficiaries of the programme in Kano.
He said the foundation had paid all the fees ranging from tuition, accommodation and personal allowances for the beneficiaries as well as their return tickets.
Yusuf Maitama Sule University hold maiden convocation
At least 80 students graduated with first class degrees from Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano (YUMSUK) when the university conducted its first, second and third combined convocation ceremony in Kano city.
During the event 755 students graduated with second class upper; 1, 309 got lower second class, while 312 graduated with third class degrees out of a total of 2, 456 students.
Also 527 students were graduates from 2015/2016 session, 693 were from the 2016/2017 academic session, while 1, 236 graduated from 2017/2018 session.
Kano medical students stranded in India over N22m school fees
In February, 14 medical students from Kano State studying in India on the state government’s scholarship with deportation following the failure of the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration to offset their school fees of about N22 million ($59,200).
The stranded students were among several others placed on foreign scholarships by the administration of former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The 14 students who were studying medicine in India’s SS Institute of Medical Science and Research Centre (SSIMS and RC), Davanagere, ran into trouble when the state government reportedly declined to clear their outstanding school fees.
Kano University beats UNN, Yaba Tech in national essay competition
The Kano State Univervisity of Science and Technology (KUST) Wudil emerged winner in the National Engineering, Science and Technology Essay Competition (NESTEC) beating University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and Yaba College of Technology to the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
Ganduje declares free, compulsory education
In May 2019 the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, declared free primary and secondary education for school-age children in the state.
Governor Ganduje made the declaration in his acceptance speech, shortly after being sworn in as Kano State Governor for a second term in.
He promised free and compulsory basic education for all school-age children in Kano.
According to him, tertiary education for Kano indigenes will also be subsidized.
Kano abolishes Degree HND dichotomy
Another development to remember in 2019 is the abolition of the dichotomy between the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelors’ degree holders in the state.
Ganduje made this known during the workers day celebrations at Sani Abacha Stadium.
According to Ganduje, his administration will continue to give priority to the welfare of civil servants and all residents of the state.
The Kano branch National Labour Congress (NLC) chairman Kabiru Ado Minjibir, appealed to the state government to implement payment of allowances for workers of state tertiary institution as applicable to their colleagues in the Federal civil service.
Ganduje pays N2bn debt for Kano students in Sudan University
Kano State Government settled over N2 billion outstanding fees of its students in El-Razi University in Sudan.
The state government said the debt was incurred by the administration of ex-governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Ganduje said he inherited the students from the previous administration with a lot of money to be paid.
The governor added that the administration also paid over N300 million to Cyprus University to enable students sponsored by the state to complete their programmes.
Kano School of Nursing upgraded to degree awarding institution
The Kano State House of Assembly amended the law establishing the state College of Nursing and Midwifery to enable it commence award of Degree, Diploma and Higher National Diploma (HND).
The House Majority Leader, Alhaji Labaran Abdul-Madari said the college which has been awarding only certificates will now be upgraded to award degrees and other certificates.
According to him, the law will also give the college the opportunity to admit students with five credits, including Mathematics, English and Biology especially those at the rural areas for one year training on nursing and midwifery.
He explained that this will give students from rural areas opportunities to gain knowledge on nursing, so they can help reduce maternal and infant mortality.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Imam Nura Garba Mato has urged Muslims to remain conscious of their actions, saying that divine reward and punishment often correspond to the nature of people’s deeds.
KANO FOCUS reports that the imam made the call while delivering a Friday sermon at Jami’u Ansar wal Muhajirun Jumaa Mosque, Cotton Ginnery Layout, Zawaciki, Kano State.
The sermon, titled “Al-Jazā’u Min Jinsil-‘Amal” (Recompense Is According to the Nature of Deeds), focused on the Islamic teaching that people’s actions have consequences and that good deeds attract divine reward.
Imam Mato said Allah had established enduring principles in human life that do not change, urging Muslims to understand these principles and allow them to guide their conduct.
He explained that one of these principles was that recompense corresponds to the nature of one’s actions, stressing the importance of living righteously and fulfilling one’s responsibilities to Allah and fellow human beings.
The imam called on Muslims to observe *taqwa* (consciousness of Allah), remain steadfast in their faith and follow the teachings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
He also highlighted the importance of helping people in difficulty, easing the burdens of others and showing compassion to fellow Muslims.
Quoting a prophetic tradition, the imam emphasised that whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship in this world will receive relief from Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
He further explained that whoever conceals the faults of a fellow Muslim would receive Allah’s concealment of their faults on the Day of Resurrection, while those who make things easier for people in difficulty would receive Allah’s assistance in this world and the Hereafter.
The sermon also underscored the importance of supporting others, noting that a Muslim’s relationship with Allah should be reflected in their treatment of fellow human beings.
Imam Mato urged Muslims to reflect on their deeds and recognise that their conduct carries consequences, encouraging them to embrace good actions, assist those in need and uphold the teachings of Islam in their daily lives.
He stressed that Muslims should make righteousness, compassion and service to others central to their lives in pursuit of Allah’s pleasure and success in the Hereafter.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has directed all civil servants who have attained their statutory retirement age or completed the required length of service to immediately vacate their offices and hand over government property in their possession.
KANO FOCUS reports that the directive was contained in Circular issued on Tuesday by the Establishment Directorate, Office of the Head of Civil Service, Kano State.
The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Abba A. Danguguwa, on behalf of the Head of Civil Service, was titled: “Unauthorized Continuance in Service After Statutory Retirement by Civil Servants in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government – Call for Immediate Handing Over of Official Documents, Properties.”
The government said it had observed that some civil servants continued to remain in office and operate in official capacities after reaching their statutory retirement period.
According to the circular, such conduct was a “negation to the reputation of the Civil Service of Kano State,” noting that the service had a long-standing tradition of ensuring seamless transition by retiring civil servants.
It described the continued stay in service after retirement as a direct infraction and aberration of relevant provisions of the State Civil Service Rules and other applicable service regulations.
The government stressed that it was legally and administratively untenable for any officer to remain in service or perform official functions beyond the statutory limit.
Consequently, all civil servants who had retired either by age or length of service were directed to immediately exit and hand over all official documents, government property and duties to their immediate subordinates in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.
The circular also directed all Accounting Officers, including Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives, as well as Directors of Administration and Personnel Management, to ensure strict and immediate compliance with the directive.
It warned that any officer found aiding, abetting or condoning the continued stay of a retired officer in service would face appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.
The directive takes immediate effect, the circular stated.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf says his administration has settled approximately N32 billion out of the N48 billion inherited backlog of gratuities and related liabilities owed to retirees in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that Gov Yusuf disclosed this on Thursday while addressing residents at the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium in Kano.
The governor said the government had also sustained the regular payment of monthly pensions while increasing the minimum monthly pension from N5,000 to N20,000.
He said the welfare of workers and pensioners remained a priority of his administration, citing timely payment of salaries, improved remuneration and measures aimed at strengthening the public service.
According to him, the state has maintained the practice of paying workers’ salaries on or before the 25th of every month while implementing the N71,000 minimum wage for civil servants.
Gov Yusuf also said his administration was sponsoring public servants for professional training, including programmes at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), to strengthen their administrative and leadership capacity.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a professional and motivated workforce, while ensuring that the contributions and sacrifices of serving workers and retirees were recognised and treated with dignity.
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