Headlines
2023: Osibanjo best candidate to succeed Buhari – Kawu

Nasiru Yusuf
A House of Representatives member from Kano, Hafiz Kawu, has described Vice President Yemi Osibanjo as the “natural successor of President Muhammadu Buhari” in 2023.
KANO FOCUS reports that Mr Kawu, a former aide to Mr Osibanjo said the Vice President has what it takes to succeed Mr Buhari, owing to his “experience and versatility in managing an entity”.


Hon. Hafiz Kawu
Kawu who worked in Vice President’s office before he won House of Representatives seat in 2019, revealed this at a press conference, Monday in Kano.
“Although he has not declared intention to contest, we are all asking him to come out and certainly we know he will accept the call and go for the presidency.”
“We are sure that with Professor Yemi Osibanjo, Nigeria would be great again as being championed by this government, and one can believe with me that today Nigerians cannot afford dumping APC for any other party,” the legislator said.
The lawmaker, hinted that the Vice President has shown clear capabilities and courage in handling Nigeria as seen in his acting capacity in the absence of his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, “the Vice President has the capacity to improve the economy of the country in view of the fact that he is the one who designed all social investment programmes that have positively impacted millions of Nigerians.
“I am sure the VP would continue from where Mr President stopped because he has the mindset of developing Nigeria. He is the natural successor of the President.
Nigeria is in his heart. He believes so much in Nigeria. He is a leader by example.
“He is a loyal VP and his performance as a Vice President is unprecedented. Even when he acted as the president on several occasions, Mr Nice President had performed very well, so he has the experience to become the nation’s leader come 2023,” Mr Kawu said.
When asked about the presidential ambition of the National Leader of APC, Bola Tinubu, Mr Kawu said, “Tinubu has not declared his presidential ambition. Even if he declares, the party knows how to sort it out.”
On the alleged support of governor Abdullahi Ganduje to Mr Tinubu, Kawu said the governor had never declared his support to Tinubu’s presidential ambition in public.
He also expressed optimism that APC would be out of its lingering crises at state and national level, expressing hope that the ruling party would even emerge victorious in the 2023 elections across the country.
Kawu’s endorsement of Mr Osibanjo came two days after former chairman of House committee on appropriation in the House of Representatives Abdulmumin Jibrin organised special prayers for Tinubu’s presidential ambition at his residence.

Headlines
Emir of Rano lauds AGILE for educational intervention

Aminu Abdullahi
The adolescent girls initiative for learning and empowerment AGILE has been described as a major catalyst to educational development.

KANO FOCUS reports that the Emir of Rano, Alhaji Muhammad Isa Umaru, made the indication while receiving AGILE team in his palace.
According to him, Kano has witnessed significant progress in girl child education facilitated by AGILE, hence the need for traditional institutions and relevant stakeholders to contribute their quota to achieve the desired objectives.
He noted that, Rano Emirate has been at the forefront of ensuring enrollment retention and completion of girls education through various initiatives.
The emir called on the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) to upgrade the girls school in his community.
The monarch said, the school, located beside the palace, requires expansion to accommodate a larger number of students.
The traditional ruler suggested that AGILE should visit the school to assess its condition, saying that, relocating the school to a bigger location had been earlier considered.
In his remarks the permanent secretary Kano state ministry of education Alhaji Bashir Baffa explained that, they were at the palace to seek for support and blessings form the royal father.
He said, AGILE has fostered an enabling environment for girls through promoting behavioral changes through communication campaigns engagement with traditional rulers and advocacy.
He maintained that, the team has embarked on advocacy visits to all relevant stakeholders at community and state levels on the importance of girls education.
Alhaji Baffa hinted that the state government had declared a state of emergency on education, hence the need for the traditional institution to contribute its quota to achieve the desired objectives.
He posited that, the team will visit the school to see possible ways of intervening for the development of education.
The permanent secretary also used the opportunity to condole Rano emirate over the killing of its indigenes in Uromi.
KANO FOCUS reports that, earlier the team has paid a similar visit to Karaye Emirate council as part of efforts to advocate for support from the traditional institution and relevant stakeholders.

Headlines
Kano AGILE renovates 1,300 schools, enrolls 30,000 girls in three years

Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim
The Kano State Ministry of Education’s Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, supported by the World Bank, has successfully renovated over 1,300 senior and junior secondary schools in the state in the last three years.
KANO FOCUS reports that the state commissioner for education, Alhaji Ali Haruna Makoda, disclosed this during a visit to the Karaye Emirate on Tuesday.

He added that the AGILE program has enrolled more than 30,000 girls through targeted outreach, grants, and its Second Chance education initiative.
Makoda further revealed that the state government has finalized plan to construct 130 new schools in rural communities, with over 35,000 girls already benefiting from financial assistance under the scheme.
He urged the Karaye Emirate to lend full support to the program and prioritize girls’ education.
In his remarks, the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Muhammad Maharaz, pledged the emirate’s commitment to advancing girls’ education in Kano State.
He commended the state government and the commissioner for their dedication to the programme’s success.
“It is our collective responsibility to support this initiative,” the Emir stated, calling for measures to ensure beneficiaries complete their education with strong academic outcomes.
The commissioner’s delegation consist of the Kano State AGILE Project Coordinator, Malam Mujitapha Aminu and other members of State Programme Implementation Unit (SPIU).

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BUK Faculty of Education celebrates 50 years anniversary, launches Alumni Association

Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim
Bayero University Kano (BUK) on Monday celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Faculty of Education and inaugurated its Alumni Association at the Convocation Arena of the university’s new campus.

KANO FOCUS reports that the event was graced by government officials, education stakeholders, and alumni all gathered to commemorate the faculty’s contributions to Nigeria’s educational sector.
In her keynote address, the State Minister for Education, Mrs. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad announced the Federal Government’s Sector Renewal Initiative designed to transition Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.
She highlighted that the aim of the renewal initiative consists of – Reducing the number of out-of-school children; combating learning poverty; nhancing skills development and human capital for the labor market
The minister noted that the initiative prioritizes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Digital literacy and education quality assurance.
Mrs. Ahmad disclosed that the Federal Government had disbursed ₦35 billion to 261 beneficiaries under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), with BUK among the top beneficiaries.
“So far, the scheme has received 420 applications, and we are scaling up investments,” she stated.
She further confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved ₦120 billion to boost TVET programs, with plans to train 650 youths in technical, vocational, and digital skills over the next two years.
Emeritus Professor Sani Ahmad Sufi, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, praised the faculty for its high-quality graduates.
“Our pride lies not just in the number of graduates produced yearly, but in their impact across Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
He added that the faculty has produced Nigeria’s largest pool of graduate teachers many of whom hold key positions nationally and internationally.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje applauded the faculty for its significant role in advancing education in Nigeria.
The event concluded with awards presented to distinguished alumni and supporters of the faculty in recognition of their contributions to its growth.
