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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.

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KSCHMA to integrate family planning into health contributory scheme

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA) is planning to integrate family planning services into the scheme.

KANO FOCUS reports that the agency in ollaboration with the Society for Family Health organised a highly technical workshop in Kaduna Wednesday in that regard.
The workshop will also review the benefit package being offered by the Agency while also look at ways to include MNH innovations in the benefit package and finalise a clear actionable plan for immediate implementation and alignment with MAMII to reduce maternal mortality in Kano.
KANO FOCUS reports that Family Planning services and commodities have recently been identified as one of the ways that can grossly affect and reduce maternal mortality in Kano State and KSCHMA is fully aligned to work in tandem with efforts of the Kano State Government, the SMOH and other partners to see a remarkable reduction in Maternal Mortality.

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Dangote refinery exports two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia

NESG says FG Must Support Domestic Industries to Achieve a $1 Trillion Economy
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Dangote Petroleum Refinery recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully exporting two jet fuel cargoes to Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer and a leading integrated oil and gas company globally.
KANO FOCUS reports that Saudi Aramco is the official Saudi Arabian Oil Company, which is a majority state-owned petroleum and natural gas company that is the national oil company of Saudi Arabia.
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, revealed this on Tuesday during a visit by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), team to both Dangote Fertiliser Limited and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.
Dangote said exporting products to the global markets, especially Saudi Aramco, was because of his refinery’s world-class standards and advanced technologies.
“We are reaching the ambitious goals we set for ourselves, and I’m pleased to announce that we’ve just sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco,” he said.
Since its production began in 2024, the Dangote refinery has steadily increased its output, now reaching 550,000 barrels per day.
While commending Aliko Dangote for establishing the $20 billion refinery – the largest single-train refinery in the world – NESG Chairman, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, stated that Nigeria needs more investments of this calibre to reach its $1 trillion economy goal.
“To achieve a $1 trillion economy, much of that must come from domestic investments. I joked during the bus ride that while others are dredging to create islands for leisure, you’ve dredged 65 million cubic tonnes of sand to create a future for the country. This refinery, fertiliser plant, petrochemical complex, and supporting infrastructure are monumental,” he said. “My hope is that God grants you the strength, courage, and health to realise your ambitions and that in your lifetime, a new Nigeria will emerge.”
Yusuf emphasised that such local industries are essential to Nigeria’s industrialisation and will help foster the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). He added that the NESG would continue to advocate for an improved investment climate to attract entrepreneurs, boost development, ensure food security, and address insecurity.
He lamented that Nigeria has become a dumping ground for foreign products and stressed that the country must support its entrepreneurs to become a global player. “It’s inconceivable that a nation of over 230 million people, with an annual birth rate higher than the total population of some countries, is still dependent on imports to feed its citizens.”
Yusuf also praised Dangote’s bold vision for making Nigeria self-sufficient in several key sectors.
“The NESG is grateful, and I believe the nation is as well. This refinery represents the audacity of courage. It takes immense effort to do what you’ve done and still be standing and smiling. Thank you for inspiring us and showing that nothing is impossible. You’ve transformed Nigeria from a net importer of petroleum products to a net exporter,” he said. “We’ve all read Think Big, but this is truly about thinking big. The message is clear: the private sector can bring about real change.”
Yusuf, alongside NESG board members and stakeholders, toured the refinery and fertiliser plants, lauding the level of investment, technology, and sophistication of young Nigerian engineers running world-class laboratories and central control units. He acknowledged Dangote’s perseverance and success in overcoming numerous challenges.
Dangote, in his response, reiterated the importance of the private sector in national development, asserting that Nigeria’s challenges could largely be overcome by providing gainful employment to its people.
He stated that the concept of a free market should not be used as a pretext for continued import dependence, highlighting that both developed and developing nations, including the USA and China, actively protect their domestic industries to safeguard jobs and promote self-sufficiency. Dangote also cited the example of the Benin Republic, where cement imports are restricted as part of a deliberate strategy to protect local industries, despite the proximity of his Ibese plant.
“The President is a personal friend, and my Ibese plant is just 28km from Benin, yet they refuse to allow imports to protect their local industries, most of which are grinding plants,” he remarked.
He further emphasised that the government stands to gain substantially when the private sector flourishes, noting that 52 kobo (52%) of every naira Dangote Cement generates goes to the government.
Dangote also pointed out the significant challenges involved, in setting up industries in Nigeria, particularly the substantial capital investment required due to the lack of infrastructure. He stressed that investors are often forced to take on responsibilities for essential services such as power, roads, and ports – services that should be provided by the government.

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Gov Yusuf constructs 400 classrooms in basic schools – SUBEB chair

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has constructed 400 classrooms to decongest lower basic schools.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Executive Chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Alhaji Yusuf Kabir revealed this on Tuesday while receiving members of Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) who paid him an advocacy visit.

Alhaji Yusuf Kabir
The chairman added that the state government is expending billions of Naira in renovation of schools through Community Reorientation Committees (CRC) across the forty four local government areas.
He said the project is part of the governor Yusuf-led administration’s campaign promises to reform the decayed education sector in the state.


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Kabir appealed to corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to complement government’s effort in that direction.
He however solicited the support of K-SAFE in addressing the menace of students’ absenteeism and late coming which he described as the major challenge to effective teaching and learning.
The chairman extended an invitation to K-SAFE to be attending teachers recruitment exercises and procurement processes as he is committed to transparent and prudent management of public resources.

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Earlier the Co-chairperson of K-SAFE Dr Auwalu Halilu said they were in SUBEB to formally introduce the forum as accountability platform working in education sector.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE is a co-creation of government, civil society organisations and media workers aimed at improving education in Kano state.

Dr Auwalu Halilu
He assured readiness of K-SAFE members to support SUBEB in school monitoring across the nooks and crannies of the state.
Also speaking the Secretary of K-SAFE Dr Abdussalam Kani raised concerns over the alarming data frequently released by development partners and Non Governmental Organisations, which he said contradicted all obtainable indices.
He therefore called on Kano State Bureau of statistics to regulate publishing unjustifiable data by Non Governmental organisations in Kano state.
