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UK, Kano signs mutual accountability framework document
Nasiru Yusuf
Kano State has signed a Mutual Accountability Framework (MAF) with the United Kingdom.
KANO FOCUS reports that the signing of the agreement on Thursday made the state, the third in the country as Jigawa State and Kaduna states had earlier done on 16 June and 30th June 2021, respectively.
The three states were picked by the United Kingdom for her mutual accountability approach.
The signing was done after the United Kingdom’s (UK) Development Director in Nigeria, Dr Christopher Pycroft, and representatives from the British High Commission held a Strategic Dialogue with the Kano State Government to discuss the Kano Mutual Accountability Framework (MAF) between 11th and 12th August.
A statement on Thursday by the British High Commission in Nigeria signed by Policy and Communications Manager, Elva Lynch-Bathgate, said the UK and Kano State Government agreed Mutual Accountability Framework and held strategic dialogue focused on Health, Education, Social Protection, Good Governance, and Sustainable Economic Transformation.
The statement revealed that the Kano MAF, which was signed on 12th August by the UK and Kano State Government, is a policy document that provides the blueprint for the socio-economic development of Kano State, aligned with the overarching Kano State Development Plan (2020-2025).
The statement further said the framework formed the basis for the dialogue with both parties setting out their commitments and ways to hold each other mutually accountable to deliver on these.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje watching Primary school pupils
During the dialogue, technical sessions were held to identify constraints and opportunities and how best the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) can support the Kano State Government to address them and progress delivery of the mutual accountability framework.
The statement read that through this strengthened partnership, mutual commitments, dialogue, transparency, and accountability, greater impact will be achieved in supporting the Kano State Government’s own efforts.
At the strategic dialogue, the UK Development Director in Nigeria, based at the British High Commission, Christopher Pycroft said: “This Strategic Dialogue to discuss our mutual accountability commitments affords us all the opportunity to do more. Kano State faces many challenges on the road to sustainable development – but this Mutual Accountability Framework is a call to action.
Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and Dr Christopher Pycroft
“We can use this strategic dialogue to discuss what both sides can do differently to deliver more results for the people of the state and empower them to fulfil their potential.”
He noted that this dialogue represented the third of a series of high-level engagements between the UK and the state governments of Kano, Kaduna, and Jigawa, as earlier this year, the UK also signed Mutual Accountability Framework’s with Jigawa State and Kaduna State.
According to him, these partnerships will drive forward development and support long-term institutional reforms to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for citizens in the state. The strategic dialogues and accountability frameworks also deepen the existing strong relationships with partner states.
With the signing, both the FCDO and partner governments are accountable to the citizens to demonstrate how UK aid is supporting governments’ development agendas and policies.
The Kano MAF was signed at a primary school in Dawakin Tofa LGA, an initiative by the Kano State Governor, which is supported by UK aid, which demonstrates how the UK-Kano partnership is already delivering real impact on the ground.
Through the Kano Literacy and Maths Accelerator (KaLMA) project the school is supported to deliver with the Teaching at the Right Level approach (TaRL), which assesses children on foundational skills and groups them by learning level. Since 2019, through KaLMA over 36,000 primary school children have been supported to build foundational Hausa and English literacy and numeracy skills.
During school closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the KaLMA project pivoted to support the Kano State Government’s efforts to help children continue learning from home.
Governor Ganduje with Primary school pupils
With UK aid, support on home-based and remote learning, including radio broadcasts, has reached children across Kano with programmes in Hausa, English, and Maths.
During this visit, the Development Director, Dr Christopher Pycroft said: “Today I went with His Excellency Governor Ganduje to see how UK development assistance is supporting the Governor’s ambition to improve teaching and learning for Kano’s children.
Through our Strategic Dialogue and Mutual Accountability Framework which we signed today, we have further deepened the relationship between the UK and Kano state in support of the people of Kano.”
On his part, during the strategic dialogue, the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, stated that “There is no doubt the relationship between FCDO and the State is helping us to strengthen our institutions. For any sustainable development there must be strong institutions”, adding “We are partners in progress”.
Dr Danlami Hayyo, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and Dr Christopher Pycroft
The statement said FCDO Nigeria has played a strong role over the past decade in the development and growth of Kano and will continue to partner with the state for a sustainable, empowered, and accountable development path for its people.
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has debunked reaching a resolution with any individual on the trending defection rumoured to the ruling party or any other political party.
KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso, who considered the recent statement credited to have suggested a particular position as an imagination of falsehood and fragmentation of political mischief against him.
A statement posted on his official X handle @KwankwasoRM, the ex-Governor insisted he has since refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and will continue to do so for the time being.
In the said false information that went viral, Kwankwaso was quoted to have revealed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on multiple occasions, urging him to return to the APC fold.
Responding to a statement purportedly signed by one Ibrahim Rabiu, Sen. Kwankwaso insisted he had never signed or authorised any statement to be issued on his behalf.
“My attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly stating my position on the recurring political realignments. I wish to categorically state that such statements are false, unfounded, and products of political mischief.
“I have refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and I will continue to do so for the time being.”
” I urge the public to only engage statements that come from my public handles and other official sources”. Kwankwaso RM.”
In a releted development, the author of the purported false statement Ibrahim Rabiu has issued a self counter, denouncing the statement as a work of devil.
“I Ibrahim Rabiu, wish to inform the general public that I was never authorised by Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso to issue and release a statement on his belhalf”
“I therefore wish to tender a public apology to his person with a promise that such childish act will never be repeated in the future, please find a space in your heart to forgive me, I was misled by fake news and agents of misinformation”
The Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sunusi II, commended the Adolescent Girls Initiatives for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project for reenrolling over 30,000 adolescent girls and renovating more than 1,300 schools across the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Emir made the commendation while reeiving AGILE State Project Implementation Unit (SIPU) who paid him an advocacy visit recently.
Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi ll
He emphasized the Kano Emirate Council’s commitment to advocating for education and pledged continued support to ensure the enrollment, retention, transition, and completion of girls’ education in Kano.
The Emir also emphasized the importance of collaboration and synergy in implementing policies and programs that foster the development of the state and the nation at large.
AGILE Project Coordinator presenting gift to Emir of Kano
He expressed satisfaction with the AGILE project’s strong monitoring and evaluation framework, particularly in tracking the use of grants and conditional cash transfers.
In his remarks, the Kano State AGILE Coordinator, Malam Mujtapha Aminu said more than 100,000 students are currently enrolled in learning centers across 23 local government areas under the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) second chance education in Kano.
AGILE PC and Emir of Kano
He said this initiative provides out-of-school adolescent girls an opportunity to complete their secondary education, gain entrepreneurship and life skills.
According to him, the second chance education students undergo literacy, numeracy, and entrepreneurship training across 5,000 learning centers.
Athletes who participated in AGILE WEEK Games
He further explained that after nine months of instruction, the students sit for examinations and are awarded certificates equivalent to the Junior Secondary School Certificate.
“Those who enroll in the advanced literacy program also have the opportunity to sit for national examinations such as NECO and WAEC,” he added.
He said they visited the Emir’andalace to seek blessings and advocate for support to achieve their goals.
AGILE Communications Officer and games officials
The AGILE Project is a World Bank-assisted initiative implemented through Federal and State Ministries of Education, aimed at improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls in Nigeria.
The gale of defection from opposition political parties intensifies as two members of the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Abdullahi Sani Rogo and Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
KANO FOCUS reports that both lawmakers represent Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya and Karaye/Rogo federal constituency of Kano State.
Both lawmakers announced their defection at plenary presided over by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
On hand to witness the defection on the floor of the House was the national chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, accompanied by some members of the national working committee of the party.
However, the Minority Whip, Isa Ali JC, faulted the defection of the lawmakers on the basis that it was against constitutional provisions.
As of Thursday, no fewer than 30 members of opposition political parties have dumped their parties to join the APC.
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