Headlines
Senate confirms reappointment of Danbatta as NCC Boss
Nasiru Yusuf
The Nigerian Senate has officially confirmed the nomination of Umar Garba Danbatta for reappointment as the Executive Vice and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Kano Focus reports that the Senate confirmed Danbatta during its plenary on Tuesday, following the consideration of the report of Oluremi Tinubu-led Senate Committee on Communications.
Presenting the report, Opeyemi Bamidele, a member of the committee, said Mr Danbatta met the requirements expected of him.
“The committee met and carried out the screening exercise and the nominee responded well.”
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“That the Senate do confirm the appointment of Umar Danbatta as the executive vice-chairman and chief executive officer (CEO).” The senator said.
Mr Danbatta was confirmed after the Senate resolved into Committee of the Whole and his nomination was put to a voice vote.
Mr Danbatta had, on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, appeared before the Senate Screening Committee and gave impressive accounts of his stewardship as the country’s chief telecoms regulator in the last five years.
The EVC’s appearance before the Senate following his nomination for reappointment as the umpire for the telecom industry for another five years by President Muhammad Buhari on June 5, 2020.
Mr Danbatta was appointed, in the first instance, for a five-year term in office as the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, on August 4, 2015 and was subsequently confirmed by the Senate on November 25, 2015.
With the Senate confirmation, Danbatta has received a vote confidence to continue to steer the regulatory activities of the countries over $70 billion telecommunications industry for another five years towards fast-tracking Federal Government agenda on digital economy development.
Mr Danbatta’s visionary leadership has been hinged on NCC’ Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) for the fiscal years 2015-2020, focused on the 8-Point Agenda, the effective implementation of which has led to impressive broadband penetration which rose from a mere 6.0 percent in 2015 to 40.14 per cent in May, 2020.
Active Internet subscriptions also increased from 93 million to over 141 million currently during the period.
The number of active telephone subscribers also rose from 150 million in 2015 to 192.32 million in May 2020 with teledensity currently standing at 100.72 percent, following the rebasing the teledensity to 91 percent in March, 2019.
The increase in broadband penetration, Internet usage, number of access to telephone and several other initiatives by the Commission, especially in the areas of driving tech innovations, creating employment, promoting digital inclusiveness, have helped improve the sectors’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution from 8.50 percent in 2015 to over 11 per cent currently, with a lot of digital activities taking place in all the sectors of the economy.
Mr Danbatta is set to consolidate the modest achievements of the past five years by focusing on broadband penetration, consumer protection and empowerment, efficient resource utilization, and facilitation of fibre infrastructure deployment.
Mu
Bayero University, Kano (BUK) has recorded a landmark academic achievement following the release of the results from the 2024 accreditation exercise conducted by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
In what has been described as a resounding endorsement of the University’s academic standards and quality assurance framework, all 53 academic programmes presented for evaluation were granted full accreditation or accredited status.
The accreditation, conducted between October and November 2024, covered undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across key faculties including Administration, Agriculture, Allied Health Sciences, Arts, Computing, Education, Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Social Sciences.
According to a statement signed by the University Registrar, Haruna Aliyu, the development affirms BUK’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, curriculum innovation, and sustained infrastructural and faculty development.
“This milestone is a testimony to the quality of education and institutional governance at BUK. It validates our position as one of Nigeria’s premier universities,” the statement said.
Key Highlights:
• Administration Faculty recorded full accreditation across 13 programmes including the Master of Accounting and Financial Management, MBA, and Islamic Banking & Finance.
• Agriculture, Medicine, Pharmacy, and all Engineering programmes received full accreditation, reinforcing the University’s strength in science-based disciplines.
• The Education Faculty had a sweeping success with 14 programmes earning full accreditation.
• Courses in Arts, Social Sciences, Computing, and Science were all rated “Full” by the NUC.
This success is more than academic—it means that all current and prospective students of these programmes can be assured that their education meets the highest national standards. It also ensures the continued recognition of their certificates for employment, postgraduate studies, and participation in national youth service.
Strengthening Nigeria’s Higher Education Landscape
The Registrar expressed appreciation to the National Universities Commission for its rigorous evaluation process and acknowledged the dedication of BUK’s Deans, Heads of Departments, academic staff, and support personnel who worked tirelessly to meet and surpass the benchmarks.
“This achievement is not an end but a motivation to continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge, research, and community engagement. We remain committed to nurturing leaders and innovators who will contribute meaningfully to Nigeria and the world,” he added.
As BUK celebrates this landmark, the University is inviting stakeholders, prospective students, parents, and the global academic community to partner in its journey of growth and excellence.
Headlines
Governor Yusuf Pays Over 3 Billion for Secondary School Students to Sit for NECO, NABTEB, NBAIS
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expended over 3 billion naira for 141,175 (one hundred and forty-one thousand, one hundred and seventy-five) Kano students who passed the 2024 qualifying examinations to sit for this year’s NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS (2025).
In a statement issued by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Information, Ibrahim Adam, it was noted that the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, announced to newsmen in Kano that the State Ministry of Education had released the results of the qualifying examinations for secondary school students in Kano.
These students are studying under the Kano State Teachers Service Board and the Science and Technical Schools Board, where 75 percent of them qualified to write the senior school certificate examinations of NABTEB, NECO, and NBAIS (for Arabic students).
Ali Haruna Makoda stated that the students eligible for payment by the Kano State Government under Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf are those who scored five credits and above.
The Commissioner maintained that all secondary school principals and directors should notify their students of their results so that the state government can effect the payment.
The 2025 qualifying exams for NECO, and NABTEB will enable the students to sit for their 2025 examinations required for admission into tertiary education.
Ibrahim Adam, the Special Adviser to Governor Yusuf on Information, said that since the inception of the administration in May 2023, it has settled registration fees for Kano indigent students for NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS.
The Special Adviser pointed out that apart from settling the fees, Governor Yusuf’s administration has also paid huge outstanding debts for NECO, and NABTEB left behind by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration.
He also said it is part of Governor Yusuf’s declaration of a state of emergency on education and an effort to mitigate the high number of out-of-school children that have bedeviled the state.
The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, Kano has commenced a week-long competition across selected secondary schools as part of its commitment to the holistic development of adolescent girls.
KANO FOCUS reports that the AGILE Week 2025 features volleyball, basketball, spelling bee, painting, poetry, essay writing, short story and content creation competitions.
GGC Dala VS GGC Kano
On Basketball Girls category, Government Girls College Dala won 1st position, Government Girls College Kano 2nd while Army Day Secondary School emerged 3rd, while on male category Ahmadiyya College won 1st position with Army Day Secondary School as runners up.
On volleyball Girls category Army Day Secondary School won 1st position, Government Girls College Dala emerged 2nd while Government Girls College Kano secured 3rd position, while on male category Government Girls Secondary School Minjibir won 1st position with Ahmadiyya College as runners up.
Basketball competition
Speaking during the ongoing AGILE Games 2025 Week activities at the Government Girls College (GGC) Gala, State Project Coordinator, Malam Mujtaba Aminu, explained the purpose of the event and its significance.
“We are here for the AGILE Week. It is a key programme under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment Project. This initiative is designed to showcase talent and intellectual skills among adolescent girls,” he said.
Basketball Competition
Aminu noted that sporting activities were chosen to help build confidence, encourage healthy competition, and foster teamwork among girls.
“Yesterday, we held a basketball competition where the winners emerged, and today we are continuing with volleyball. The top players from these games will be selected to represent the state in a friendly match against Kebbi State next week.”
Malam Mujtaba Aminu and Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
According to him, the event is not just a one-off occurrence. “It’s an annual event designed for this purpose. Initially, it was rolled out in seven states, but now the programme has expanded to include 18 to 21 states. So, next year’s games and competitions will be even bigger.”
The AGILE Project, supported by the World Bank, aims to improve secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls in Nigeria by enhancing infrastructure, providing scholarships, and supporting life-skills programmes—of which AGILE Week is a vital component.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim ANIPR,
Communication Officer,
AGILE Kano.
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