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Dangote Group Marks Int’l Women’s Day, Pledges Greater Investment in Women Empowerment
Nasiru Yusuf
Dangote Group has reiterated its commitment to continue supporting all forms of investments that would help develop and empower the women personnel within the organisation in Nigeria and across its pan-African operations.
KANO FOCUS reports that to commemorate the annual global International Women’s Day, Dangote Group, through the Dangote Women’s Network (DWN) celebrated the various outstanding contributions of its female workforce while hosting all its members of staff across Africa to collectively mark the 2022 IWD celebration titled: “BreakTheBias”.
International Women’s Day, celebrated yearly on March 8 since 1911, has become a day set aside for companies to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while speaking out against inequities including gender-based violence and workplace discrimination.
Speaking at the opening of the virtual event, President/CE of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote described “BreakTheBias” as “the start for a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination; one that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.”
According to him, “#BreakTheBias is not a slogan but a continuous fight to eliminate gender discrimination, social, cultural, religious or other forms of deliberate or unconscious bias stereotypes that hinder women from fulfilling their potential.”
Dwelling on his personal experience, Dangote revealed, “I personally understand the value of women and the power of having them involved in all aspects of business, including the boardroom. I have always been a champion of women’s empowerment. I am sure that it stems from being raised by a strong Mother, who taught me about business and philanthropy.
“I am also the father of three women, and grandfather to four girls. I have seen what they can do when given equal access to opportunities. My three daughters, Mariya, Halima and Fatima are all senior executives at the Dangote Group, and I can tell you they are critical to the success of our business. They have challenged, pushed, and made me a better leader. They are not alone in the Dangote Group. We have a strong bench of women leaders across the Group. Our focus is on skills, productivity, and ability to deliver on given assignments. I am confident that they will help drive the organisation through its next stage of growth.”
He disclosed that the company is working hard to completely eliminate any bias against women. “Within the Dangote group, I am proud to say that women are taking up topmost responsibilities and are doing very well in contributing to the rapid growth and expansion of our conglomerate across Africa. I will continue to support women and depend on their tremendous potential to transform the organisation and societies in positive ways”, he said.
Group Managing Director, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Olakunle Alake, said the theme of this year’s IWD celebration “BreakTheBias” is an inspiration to women and young girls all over the world.
According to him, equal education opportunities remain one of the foundational steps in promoting a world free of bias. “The female child should be given equal opportunity while growing up and made to understand that she is not inferior to the male child. She should be encouraged to always put her best foot forward, and that there is no barrier against her ambitions,” he said.
Non-Executive Director, Dangote Cement and Matron, Dangote Women’s Network, Halima Aliko-Dangote, said the International Women’s Day provides a useful opportunity to reinforce the fact that everyone has a role to play in forging a more gender-balanced world.
Halima said, in its effort to ensure women empowerment within and outside the organisation, the company launched the Dangote Women’s Network in 2016 to support the growth of women in the organisation and to serve as a place for them to share experiences and interact.
According to her, since the establishment of the network, the group has recorded tremendous growth in just six years. “From empowering and collaborating as a community (charity walk where we raised over N20 million for Internally Displaced Persons in Borno State), donating food, clothes and sanitary products to the less privileged across our Pan African countries (including Nigeria), to changes in policies that protect, support and enable our women to thrive,” she added.
Moderating a special panel session with focus on gender bias and possible solution to it, Managing Director, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou said Dangote Group has increased its female representation on boards, executive committees, and senior management and is committed to have one of the most gender-balanced senior management team among all its businesses.
Speaking during the panel session, Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa (Ex-RSA), Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Mrs. Yvonne Ike Fasinro, commended the Dangote Group for its efforts in having a more gender inclusive workplace. She stressed the need for women to develop confidence in themselves and be ready to speak out when necessary.
Fasinro also emphasised the need for women in senior cadre to pull others along in the development of their career path.
Also, Special Advisor to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Investments, Hajiya Maryam Wali-Uwais urged women to pay special attention to their mental health. “Mental health is a serious concern for all women who strive to be at the top of their game in an organisation. Trying to balance family and work may have serious impact on their mental health. They need to create time for leisure as a way of protecting their mental health”
Senior Advisor to the Dangote Group President, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, said that Dangote Group has done so much in breaking bias, and urged women to support each other in career development.
Speaking on her experience over the years in her career, Group Executive Director at the Dangote Group, Dr. Adenike Fajemirokun, urged women to eliminate bias against one another. She said that most bias that she has encountered so far came from fellow women, therefore the need for women to support one another.
Speaking at the end of the event, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Dangote Industries Limited, who is also an Advisory Board Member of Dangote Women’s Network, Mrs. Nglan Niat said the Human Resource Department of the company is involved in raising greater awareness on gender issues.
She stated, “We are reviewing our retention and succession plans, ensuring we include our women in our talent pool and in addressing the skills gap to provide more opportunities.” She commended the speakers and colleagues who made out time to attend the event to commemorate the celebration of the International Women’s Day.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Home-based Super Eagles coach, Augustine Eguavoen has invited Kano Pillars legendary midfielder, Rabiu Ali, and 29 players for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers against Ghana.
KANO FOCUS reports that the 8th edition of the continental championship – reserved exclusively for footballers plying their trade with clubs in their country’s domestic Leagues with standard contracts – is scheduled to take place in February 2025 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Kano Pillars’ evergreen midfielder, Rabiu Ali, who has scored eight goals this season, is among the players called.
The 44-year-old Ali has been a key player for Kano Pillars this season alongside Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa.
Other Kano Pillars players invited are Aminu Adam Sani and Nelson Abiam.
All the invited players will arrive at the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State on Wednesday, 4th December 2024, where the team will train ahead of the first leg of the qualification fixture against Ghana’s Black Stars B, billed for the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, 22nd December.
The second leg will take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 28th December.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
By some definitions,education is both the act of imparting knowledge to others and the act of receiving knowledge from someone else. Scholars have also defined education as the knowledge received through schooling or instruction.
Education plays a very important role in the life of a person as it trains,equips and prepares him or her to face and surmount the challenges of life.
This essential sector has, however, suffered neglect in Kano State,over the years, with primary schools and secondary schools sustaining dilapidated classrooms, dearth of furniture, teachers and instructional materials, among other challenges.
This apparent decay in the sector prompted the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to declare a State of Emergency to arrest the situation and restore the lost glory of education in the state.
While declaring the State of Emergency in the sector on June 8,2024, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said inter alia:”As your elected Governor entrusted with the solemn responsibility of steering our state towards prosperity and progress, I cannot ignore the glaring reality that confronts us in the realm of education.
“With education being our number one priority, and believing that education is not only a public good, but also the greatest asset that any people can bequeath to its upcoming generation because no people can grow beyond the quality and standard of their education system, we must, therefore, take radical but practical measures to reposition education provisioning in our State.
“Nearly four out of every five classrooms in our primary and junior secondary schools are marred by dilapidation and disrepair, rendering them unsuitable for the noble pursuit of knowledge.
“Today, I stand before you to announce the declaration of a STATE OF EMERGENCY in the education sector. A state of emergency, as declared today, is an extraordinary legal measure that allows us to take some bold steps to address these critical challenges swiftly and effectively,” the governor said.
Five months after the commencement of the implementation of the State of Emergency in the all-important sector, members of the Correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ),Kano Council,set out on a tour of projects being executed by the State Government under the initiative,and their findings were quite revealing as they were educative.
The tour took the Reporters to many primary and junior secondary schools in whose premises a one-storey block of four classrooms each is being constructed across the 44 local government areas of the state to address the challenge of inadequate infrastructure bedeviling the education sector.
The Writers also monitored the provision of furniture and instructional materials as well as the deployment of more teachers as part of the efforts of the Government to respond to the challenges in the sector.
The schools visited included but not limited to Namadi Primary School,Unguwar Jakada in Gwale Local Government Area,Sabon Layi Special Primary School, Bichi,in Bichi Local Government Area, Dawakin Tofa Model Primary School in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area and Garin Dau Central Primary School in Warawa Local Government Area.
Others include: Hotoro South Special Primary School, Chula Central Primary School in Ajingi Local Government Area,Yelwa Model Primary School in Dala Local Government Area,Ungogo Special Primary School in Ungogo Local Government Area and Kumbotso Special Primary School in Kumbotso Local Government Area.
In virtually all these schools visited,it was observed that the implementation of the State of Emergency has taken shape with the construction of one-storey block of four classrooms reaching advanced level of completion, provision of more furniture and instructional materials and deployment of additional teaching staff.
Another notable development in the schools is the high level of attendance of pupils and teachers, with lessons going on steadily, which,it was gathered, was encouraged by the ongoing efforts of the State Government to improve the standard of education, especially as it was evident in the provision of furniture and teaching aides such as books and writing materials.
Some stakeholders interviewed appreciated Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for launching the education revival programme.
The stakeholders whom included Sarkin Fulani Dagacin(Village Head) of Kumbotso,
Aminu Iliyasu, described the measure as “bold and timely.”
“The ongoing implementation of State of Emergency in the education sector by the State Government ably led by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf,is a welcome development as it will address the decay in the sector,”Iliyasu said.
He particularly commended the construction of one-storey block of four classrooms for primary schools across the 44 local government areas of the state, as well as the provision of furniture and instructional materials and deployment of more teachers to primary schools in the state.
On his part, the Headmaster of Kumbotso Special Primary School, Shuaibu Idris, commended the State Government for its provision of more classrooms, furniture and teaching aides to the school.
The gesture,Idris said, would boost teaching and learning in the school,but appealed to the State Government to deploy more of such infrastructure to the school.
Similarly,the Headboy of Yelwa Model Primary School in Dala Local Government Area,Saminu Sunusi, and the Headgirl of the school,Hadiza Ahmed Sulaiman, lauded the introduction of the State of Emergency by the State Government,saying the initiative would boost school enrollment and improve the education sector.
In the same vein, Nura Yusuf,the Headboy of Ungogo Special Primary School in Ungogo Local Government Area,and his counterpart,the Headgirl of the school,Jamila Isa Suleiman,said they were encouraged by the provision of additional infrastructure, teachers and instructional materials under the initiative.
On his part,the Headmaster of Dawakin Tofa Modern Primary School in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, Sabi’u Sunusi Idris, commended the State Government for providing furniture, teaching materials,water and toilet facilities in the school, so also Latifatu Jibrin Bichi and Abdulrahaman Idris, both parents of some pupils in the Sabon Layi Primary School,Bichi, who lauded the government for intervening in the education sector.
Like any government work, however,the implementation of the State of Emergency in the education sector is confronted by challenges.These include inadequate furniture, teaching and learning materials, toilet facilities as well as dearth of classrooms and teaching staff in the primary and secondary schools visited.
It was also observed that lack of perimeter fencing, inadequate number of security guards, near total absence of libraries and dispensaries were prevalent in the schools.
These challenges formed part of the testimonies of stakeholders met on ground, including Aminu Iliyasu,the village head of Kumbotso,who said that poverty and hunger are distracting primary school pupils in the area.
Iliyasu lamented that many of the pupils stray away from school and indulge in petty trading and other menial jobs because their parents cannot provide adequate care for them and other members of their respective families.
“Because of the prevailing poverty and hunger in the country, many of the pupils have to indulge in petty trading and other menial jobs so as to complement their families’ income,” he said.
In this situation,the village head said, the parents find it difficult to make any material contribution to the State Government’s efforts to revamp education.
Another major challenge facing the implementation of the State of Emergency as testified by some primary school pupils including the Headboy of Yelwa Model Primary School in Dala Local Government Area,Saminu Sunusi,and the
Headgirl of Ungogo Special Primary School, Jamila Isa Suleiman,is the inadequate number of toilet facilities in the schools.
The pupils complained that the existing toilets in their respective schools are grossly inadequate, forcing them to either do their sanitation at home or defecate in the open.
Dearth of furniture and inadequate number of teaching staff are also part of the major challenges as lamented by the Headmaster of Hotoro South Special Primary School, Habibu Sani, and his Sabon Layi Primary School, Bichi counterpart, Malam Auwal Baduku.
Both Headteachers said shortage of chairs and desks had compelled the pupils to be receiving their lessons on bare floor.
Similarly,the Headmasters said, the low number of teachers had compelled them to ration them between the multitudes of classrooms in their respective schools, which they pointed out,is inimical to the implementation of the State of Emergency programme.
Again,some other Headteachers complained that lack of perimeter fencing had exposed their schools to the menace of trespassers and thieves, which according to them, negate the State of Emergency initiative.
The findings of the tour clearly revealed that in spite of the challenges,the State of Emergency in the education sector as declared by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf,is working as planned.What is now needed is more vigour in its implementation as requested by the stakeholders.
••••Reaffirms Commitment to Press Freedom and Journalists’ Welfare
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has congratulated Comrade Alhassan Yahaya on his election as the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Comrade Yahaya emerged victorious at the 8th Triennial Delegates Conference held on Thursday in Owerri, Imo State.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf described the election of Comrade Yahaya and his team as a reflection of the trust and confidence reposed in them by journalists nationwide.
He called on the new leadership to promote inclusiveness, maintain the ethical standards of journalism, and focus on capacity-building initiatives to align with global best practices.
The governor emphasized the critical role of a free press as the Fourth Estate of the Realm in safeguarding democracy and advancing societal development.
He reiterated Kano State’s commitment to ensuring the welfare and safety of journalists, recognizing their vital contributions to informing and educating the public.
Governor Yusuf expressed optimism that the new NUJ leadership would steer the union toward transformative achievements that would strengthen the media industry for the benefit of the nation.
He also pledged his administration’s support in fostering a thriving and independent press.
The Kano State Government wished the new NUJ leadership a successful tenure filled with impactful milestones for the media professional.
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