Headlines
INEC exempts corp members from participating in Bebeji by-election
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has exempted members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from participating in the January 25 by-election in Bebeji local government area of Kano state due to security issues.
This was revealed on Tuesday by the Kano state Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Riskua Arabi Shehu, at a press conference in Kano.
Kano Focus reports that the decision might have been taken to avert revenge on corp members by Bebeji residents following the alleged killing of an 8-year-old boy in the area by an NYSC member Jepthan Peter in October 2019.
Mr Peter was remanded in prison custody on January 4, 2020 by a Magistrate Court in Nomansland, pending his bail application hearing slated for February 4, 2020.
It could be recalled that the Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna had nullified the elections of two Kano federal constituencies of Kiru/Bebeji and Tudun wada/Doguwa.
Also the court ordered the electoral body to conduct a re-run election in the two federal constituencies.
Obeying the court orders, INEC had fixed Saturday, January, 25th for the conduct of the elections.
However Mr Shehu, a professor of biochemistry said a total of 3,456 ad-hoc staff were recruited from NYSC and students of Bayero University Kano, and trained to participate in the election.
But he explained that for security reasons, INEC has decided to exclude corp members from the participating in the elections.
He said the rerun elections will be conducted in 60 registration areas across the affected local government areas with a total number 414,923 registered voters in 698 polling units and 166 voting points.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC at its meeting held no 5th December 2019 approved that all the court ordered rerun elections should be conducted on Saturday 25th January, 2020.
“It is very important for all stakeholders to demonstrate more commitments towards the success of the elections, he said.
He also said the commission finds the increasing trend of violence in recent elections very disheartening despite all the efforts to curtail it.
Mr Shehu however, vowed that INEC would no longer allow violence to mar the credibility of elections.
“The elections will be suspended in the events of threat to the safety of voters,personnel and materials,” he said.
Similarly, Kano state Commissioner of Police (CP) Habu Ahmadu Sani has warned politicians to desist from organizing violence before, during and after the elections.
He said the police would deal decisively with anyone caught trying to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections.
Mr Sani added that the police command will deploy its personnel to all the poling units to ensure smooth and successful elections.
Former Kano State Governor and Senator, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has voiced his disappointment and concern regarding the Federal Government’s approach to distributing rice palliatives in Kano State.
During a recent week-long visit to Kano, Senator Kwankwaso observed that while governors in 35 other states received the palliatives directly, Kano’s allocation was controversially handed over to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), sidestepping the state government entirely.
Senator Kwankwaso condemned this move as a blatant violation of constitutional principles, accusing the government of taking partisanship to an unacceptable level.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately suspend the distribution process and address the issue.
In addition, Senator Kwankwaso expressed concern over the frequent reshuffling of State Directors of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kano, noting that three different directors had been posted and reposted within just two weeks, potentially jeopardizing the state’s security.
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has inaugurated a postgraduate foreign scholarship program under his foundation, aimed at providing advanced educational opportunities for students from Kano.
The scholarship will enable beneficiaries to pursue postgraduate studies in cutting-edge fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Cybersecurity and Forensic Science, and Robotics Technology in India, China, and Thailand.
During a ceremony in Kano on Monday, where admission letters were distributed to the first batch of 70 recipients, Jibrin emphasized that the selected students would embark on two-year postgraduate programs in these technologically advanced fields.
Jibrin highlighted the rigorous and transparent selection process overseen by a dedicated committee, which prioritized academic excellence.
Only candidates with first-class or second-class upper degrees were considered, ensuring that the most qualified students were chosen.
He stressed that the process was impartial, noting that he had no personal connections with any of the beneficiaries.
Importantly, the scholarship is not limited to students from Kano North, Jibrin’s senatorial district, but is inclusive of all 44 local government areas in Kano State.
“Our goal is to invest in the future of our youth through education,” Jibrin stated.
“We carefully selected these areas of study because they are at the forefront of modern technology.
“This initiative is designed to equip our students with the skills needed for the overall development of our nation.”
Jibrin encouraged the beneficiaries to be diligent in their studies and to represent Nigeria positively in their host countries.
He also expressed that students who find opportunities abroad after their studies are welcome to stay and gain further experience before returning to Nigeria.
Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, lauded Jibrin for his commitment to advancing education and providing such opportunities for Kano’s youth.
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
In a significant academic milestone, the Senate of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) has approved the promotion of 90 senior academics to the ranks of Professors and Associate Professors.
KANO FOCUS reports that the decision was made during the Senate’s 416th meeting, held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
The promotion list includes 45 academics who have attained the rank of Professor, further bolstering BUK’s academic reputation across various disciplines.
Among those promoted to Professor are Dr. Umar Sani Fagge, now Professor of Arabic Language; Dr. Ibrahim Muazzam Saminu Maibushira, Professor of Islamic Thought and Civilization; and Dr. Tijjani Muhammad Naniya, who has been elevated to Professor of Social and Political History.
In the sciences, Dr. Mukhtar Ridwanu Bunza has been promoted to Professor of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, while Dr. Kasim Muhammad has become Professor of Environmental Engineering. Other notable promotions include Dr. Murtala M. Badamasi as Professor of Geography and Dr. Salisu Maiwada Abubakar as Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry.
The list also highlights the promotion of five female academics to full Professorships, underscoring BUK’s commitment to gender diversity in academia. Among them are Dr. Ummulkhair A. Dantata, now Professor of Hausa Language; Dr. Latifa Musa Pedro, Professor of Health Economics; and Dr. Hauwa Musa Abdullahi, who has become Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
In addition to these promotions, 45 academics have been elevated to the rank of Associate Professor.
This includes Dr. Lawal Muhammad Bello in Electrical Engineering, Dr. Warshu Tijjani Rabi’u in Islamic Studies & Shari’ah, and Sunusi Iguda in Mass Communication.
This wave of promotions reflects BUK’s dedication to academic excellence and its ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of education and research within the institution.
The university continues to position itself as a leading center of learning and scholarship in Nigeria and beyond.
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