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NCDC presents Kano mission report, rated the state 47%
Nasiru Yusuf
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has on Thursday presented it’s assessment of health security capabilities at the sub-national level titled Kano mission report.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Deputy Director, NCDC, Oyeladun Okunromade, presented the report at a joint evaluation report dissemination meeting held in Kano where the state ready score was rated 47 percent.
According to her, the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) was developed to address the gaps Identified with International Health Regulation (IHR) compliance in Nigeria and support resource mobilisation to implement priority activities outlined following the Joint External Evaluation (JEE).
“Following the midterm review and as a consequence of the revised JEE tool, it become evident that similar HR core capacities are required at the sub-national level and an assessment needed to be conducted to exceton pandemic preparedness across States in Nigeria using a validated tool and methodology.
“The need for this assessment became even more evident of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.”
In her capacity as the International Health Regulations National Focal Point the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is convening state government Ministries and Agencies to assess and identity gaps in their health security core capacities.
The Kano assessment assessment was conducted between June 15 and 18, 2021.
“The adopted health security assessment tool for states in Nigeria was used as well as the WHO Benchmarks tool to validate the self-assessed scores. Overall, the ReadyScore for Kano state is 47%.
“We continue to look forward to the harmonious working relationship between all IHR implementing MDAs and partners,” she added.
She observed that”while it was generally noted that most of the technical areas assessed required a significant amount of work to attain sustained capacities, the state performed well in the areas of legislation and policy, immunization, and surveillance.
“Based on the assessment, technical areas that had the lowest scores include emergency preparedness, zoonetic diseases and food safety.
“Thus, improvements in these areas are crucial for Kano State’s health security, some key challenges identified across technical areas include laboratory, inter-sectoral collaboration, absence of an overarching legal framework for the state health security architecture among others.”
On his part the state commissioner of health Aminu Tsanyawa represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry Aishatu Musa expressed delight on the outcome of the report as Kano state scores is even higher than the national.
The commissioner added that the state government under the leadership of Abdullahi Ganduje attaches priority attention to health sector as one of the key sector of of human development.
According to him the state has allocated 17% of it’s budget to health subsector which is above 2001 Abuja declaration.
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.
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).
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.
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