Headlines
NCC awards N336 million research grants to universities in 5 years – Danbatta
Nasiru Yusuf
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has awarded N336.4 million research grants to Nigerian universities from 2015 to date.
Kano Focus reports that the Executive Secretary of the commission Umar Garba Danbatta, disclosed this at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja.
Mr Danbatta said NCC had continued to collaborate with academics to support the development of the innovative services and life-changing solutions with the use of information and communications technologies to promote indigenous content.
“The Commission has so far released N336.4 million as research grants to the academia and has endowed professional chairs in two Nigerian universities.
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“More importantly, we have empowered the Nigerian youth by promoting their ingenuity and innovation in the development of locally-relevant technology solutions.
“The latest of such was the 2020 NCC Virtual Hackathon, where we gave N9 million in grant to three top promising tech startups for solutions, aimed at addressing the impact of COVID-19 and diseases in thematic areas of health, community, productivity, economy and transportation.’’
Mr Danbatta revealed that the commission has remitted N362.34 billion into the Federal Government Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), from 2015 to date.
He said that the revenue was realised through spectrum fees and operating surplus, which he noted helped to boost the revenue generation drive of the present administration.
Mr Danbatta said that the broadband penetration in 2015, when he first assumed office as Executive Vice Chairman, was six per cent.
Kano Focus recalled that when Danbatta first tenure ended, he was re-appointed in June and confirmed by the Senate on July 21.
According to Danbatta, the broadband penetration as at July is 42 per cent.
“This achievement is as a result of key policy initiatives to improve broadband penetration embarked upon by the Commission.
“These include increasing the number of licenced infrastructure companies (InfraCo), to six across the geo-political zones,’’ among others.
Mr Danbatta said that the Commission was currently finalising six InfraCo counterpart funding agreements to ensure the full rollout of broadband infrastructure on an Open Access Model.
He said that this would ensure there was Point of Access in all the 774 local government areas in the country.
The executive vice chairman said that the drive to boost broadband penetration yielded fruit as the subscribers’ base stood at 199.31 million as at June.
Mr Danbatta also said that teledensity rose to 104.41 while the sector contributed 14.2 per cent to the GDP in the second quarter.
On his focus for the next five years, Danbatta said that he hoped to deepen the broadband penetration drive.
“We hope to take the broadband penetration to 70 per cent to at least 90 per cent of the population by 2025 in line with new target in the National Broadband Plan (NBBP), 2020-2025.
“We want to continue to protect consumers and ensure they have value for their money.
“We want to continue to support and fast-track the digital economy drive of the Federal Government and this has led to the creation of a Digital Economy Department in the Commission,’’ Danbatta added.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
A top-level team set up by Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf left Kano on Thursday to probe the recent killings in Uromi, Edo State.
KANO FOCUS reports that the group, led by Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, aims to find facts and build peace.
Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, the Deputy Governor’s spokesperson, released a statement listing key members.
These include the Emir of Rano, Mohammad Isa Umar; Commissioners for Religious Affairs, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Special Duties, and Women Affairs; plus the Chairman of Bunkure Local Government Area, among others.
Before leaving Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Gwarzo spoke about their goals. “Our mandate is clear — to investigate, to consult, and to recommend sustainable solutions. This is not just a fact-finding mission, but a peace-building initiative aimed at restoring confidence and preventing further violence,” he said.
The killings last month sparked tension in Uromi. The team plans a week-long visit to meet Edo State Governor, security heads, traditional rulers, and civil society groups to ease unrest and seek answers.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Malam Ibrahim Zubair, a respected academic and dedicated public servant, who passed away recently.
KANO FOCUS reports that Malam Ibrahim Zubair was a lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Northwest University, Kano, Centre Officer at Dawakin Tofa and prominent member of the Kwankwasiyya Scholars Assembly.
In a condolence message signed by his spokesperson Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa the Governor described the late lecturer as a humble, hardworking, and principled individual who dedicated his life to teaching, mentorship, and community development.
“Kano has lost one of its finest intellectuals, a man who inspired many young minds and contributed significantly to our educational system,” the statement read.
The Governor extended his heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s family, colleagues, students, and the entire academic community.
He prayed to Allah to forgive Malam Ibrahim Zubair’s shortcomings, grant him eternal rest, and give his loved ones the strength to bear the loss.
Tributes have continued to pour in from colleagues and students, who described him as an approachable and passionate teacher, known for his depth of knowledge and unwavering commitment to educational excellence.
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has been named Leadership Governor of the Year 2024 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the education sector.
The award was presented during the 17th Leadership Newspaper Awards held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The event celebrated notable Nigerians who have made significant impacts in various fields, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who was named Person of the Year 2024, and the Governor of Jigawa State, who also received a Governor of the Year award.
In a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the recognition was described as a validation of Governor Yusuf’s bold reforms in education, which have repositioned the sector in Kano State after years of neglect.
Governor Yusuf was particularly commended for allocating 31% of the state’s annual budget to education, surpassing the UNESCO benchmark, and for declaring a state of emergency on the sector.
His administration’s initiatives include massive school renovations, provision of learning materials, recruitment of teachers, and the launch of a comprehensive Education Recovery Plan.
Speaking after receiving the award, Governor Yusuf expressed gratitude to the organizers, describing the honor as unexpected and highly credible.
“We never imagined that our efforts would receive such national recognition. We did not pay for this award, we did not lobby for it — we were simply recognized for what we have achieved in Kano,” the Governor said.
He dedicated the award to vulnerable children across the state and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening reforms in education.
“This recognition has given us more encouragement to keep pushing for excellence. I thank the Leadership Newspaper management and the media for their continued support,” he added.
The event also marked the 20th anniversary of Leadership Newspaper, celebrating two decades of impactful journalism.
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