Headlines
Kano owes foreign students N800m scholarship – Official
Nasiru Yusuf
The Kano State Scholarship Board on Thursday says it owes about N800 million debts for Kano indigenes studying abroad.
Kano Focus reports that the Executive Secretary of the board, Abubakar Zakari, disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Kano.
Mr Zakari however blamed the Rabiu Kwankwaso administration for amassing the debts.
“The present government of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje inherited about N8 billion debts for scholarships from the previous administration.
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“We were able to settle part of the debt when we came, but presently we owe about N800 million debts for Kano indigenes studying abroad.
“The government has continued to sponsor over 3,000 students in foreign countries left by the previous administration,” Mr Zakari said.
The Executive secretary said the government had spent over N8 billion on scholarships for Kano indigenes studying at home and abroad in the last five years.
He explained that at the moment, 162 students from Kano are studying in Sudan, France and other countries.
“Before the issue of COVID-19, we visited the students in Sudan and France, we were making arrangements to go to the other countries, but the pandemic stopped us.
“During this challenging period occasioned by the pandemic, we were able to send some funds to those students in France.
“But we are facing challenges to send to those students in Sudan, because the government there has restrictions on cash transfer.
“Therefore, we are doing everything possible to see that we send money to them so that they will not be stranded,” he said.
According to Zakari, the state government is also collaborating with France for postgraduate training for lecturers.
The executive secretary added that the Board plans to sponsor 1,000 students on skills acquisition training in China to enable them establish businesses on their return.
Mr Zakari further revealed that the board is making arrangements to commence e-payment for the allowance of Kano students studying in Nigeria.
“I wish to inform you that when schools resume, we are making plans to increase the allowances of those local students, which has been the same for the past 15 years.
“Since I assumed office, we have encouraged our local students to apply for the scholarships, and we have provided scratch cards for home students.”
He urged interested students to ensure that they use their personal accounts, as they would not accept third party accounts.
“We are also making arrangements to ensure that all institutions in the state give their host communities priority in terms of admission.
“Such is part of the institution’s corporate social responsibility to their host communities,” he said.
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Kano State Government has issued a definitive three-game ultimatum to the management and technical staff of Kano Pillars Football Club, urging them to enhance their performance.
In a statement to the press on Friday, Acting Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Hamza Sufyanu Kachako, delivered the ultimatum in response to the team’s recent poor form in the ongoing 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League.
Following their recent defeat to Bendel Insurance of Benin, where Kano Pillars suffered a setback with a 2-1 loss, the team has faced a series of defeats, including a 1-2 home loss to Shooting Stars and a resounding 5-0 defeat against Enyimba International.
The Commissioner reiterated the state government’s steadfast support, led by Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, for Kano Pillars’ success. However, he stressed the need for decisive measures to reverse the team’s fortunes, emphasizing that the government will not tolerate the team’s decline.
The management and technical staff of Kano Pillars have been entrusted with the task of turning the situation around in the next three pivotal games, starting with the upcoming match against struggling Gombe United on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano. This will be followed by an away game against former champions Akwa United and a home fixture against Doma United of Gombe.
Currently positioned 7th in the Nigeria Premier Football League standings with 41 points from 30 matches, Kano Pillars are urged to secure maximum points in the upcoming matches to rejuvenate their season.
Under the guidance of Hon. Kachako, serving as the Sports Commissioner, the Ministry has allocated the necessary funds for Kano Pillars FC to complete their remaining matches in the Nigeria Premier Football League. This backing has been approved by His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, reflecting a dedication to the development of sports in the state.
Kachako expressed gratitude to Governor Yusuf for his steadfast backing of the team and called upon the devoted fans to continue supporting Kano Pillars during this critical junct.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF has trained journalists on effective reporting of polio immunisation campaign schedule to commence on Saturday.
KANO FOCUS reports that the participants were selected from Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states.
Speaking at the occasion the officer in charge of UNICEF Kano office Micheal Banda, described media as partners in progress that are crucial in managing misinformation about vaccines to promote uptake for immunity against childhood killer diseases.
He said boosting routine immunization will eradicate polio and childhood killer diseases in Nigeria.
According to him, strengthening the system and making routine polio immunization a top priority is critical to child survival, as such there was an urgent need for relevant stakeholders to collaborate and ensure that children below 5 years receive all vaccines.
“UNICEF would continue to support the primary healthcare system to ensure there’s at least one functional PHC in each LGA in Kano, Katsina and the country at large” He said.
The Director General of Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Agency, Dr Muhammad Mahmoud pointed out that, the Kano state government has put modalities in place to ensure success as it has commenced a polio vaccine campaign in some selected areas.
He emphasized the need for public education and enlightenment, attributing the low immunization coverage in the last few years and non-functional primary healthcare centres as some of the major catalysts to the current situation.
“Currently in Kano, there is a global mission presence to curtail the situation and Kano state government would provide all the necessary support to achieve the desired objectives “
In his presentation titled: Polio Outbreak How Can we Ethically Engage with Affected Communities” the Social and Behaviour Change Specialist, UNICEF Kano field office Ogu Enemaku identified feedback and complaints, evidence-based advocacy and decision-making as some of the key elements of accountability to affected persons.
The state epidemiologist Dr Shehu Abdullahi stressed that the polio virus invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis within hours, saying that, it can be transmitted from one person to another mainly through the faecal-oral routine or less frequently contaminated water or food.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf has sworn in four new commissioners recently cleared by the state house of Assembly.
KANO FOCUS reports that the ceremony which took place at Government House Kano on Thursday attracted party Chieftains, cabinet members, and host of others
The four new commissioners include Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, Abduljabbar Garko , Shehu Aliyu Yanmedi and Adamu Aliyu Kibiya.
The New Commissioners were assigned as follows: Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso – Youth and Sport, Abduljabbar Garko – Land and Survey, Shehu Aliyu Yanmedi – Special Duties, Adamu Aliyu Kibiya – Commerce and Industry.
Governor Yusuf Charged the new commissioners to be dedicated and commitment to their assigned responsibilities.
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