Headlines
Name and shame perpetrators of curruption – NUJ Chair tells journalists
Nasiru Yusuf
The chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano state council Comrade Abbas Ibrahim has charged journalists to name and shame perpetrators of curruption in their reportage.
KANO FOCUS reports that Mr Ibrahim made the call during a training for journalists on anti corruption and accountability issues, held in Kano.
He advised journalists to develop a corruption convicts register to enable people access the data of those convicted of corrupt practices.
Ibrahim, described corruption as a monster that has done so much damage on the country.
He reiterated that journalists have significant role to play in ensuring that credible leaders are elected in 2023.
Mr Ibrahim charged journalists to always display professionalism and stick to the ethics of the profession.
Comrade Abbas Ibrahim
He highlighted that, as watch dogs of the society whom the public rely for factual information, it becomes paramount for newsmen, to discharge their duties effectively and hold leaders accountable where the need arise.
As professional Journalists, Mr Abbas admonished newsmen to desist from seeking gratification as prerequisite of publishing news report.
In his remarks, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, tasked the media to commit those seeking political offices in 2023 to reforms.
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani
Rafsanjani asked media practitioners to prioritize anti-corruption and accountability issues as they take on politicians during campaigns towards 2023 general elections.
He expressed concern that politicians hardly talk about how to tackle corruption or address decadence in the education sector. This Rafsanjani felt, was not encouraging considering the damage done by corruption in Nigeria.
“We should put these issues at the front burner as politicians begin their campaigns because the fact that they are not talking about it is of great concern,” he stated.
CISLAC boss also recalled the recently concluded primary elections that witnessed heavy financial inducement and warned that Nigerians must not go into general elections with a mindset to induce voters.
Cross section of participants
Rafsanjani noted that: “When there is compromise or poor handling of how to deal with the nation’s challenges, there is a huge consequence. Kano had a lot of industries in the past but because of corruption in the power sector, a lot of them have closed down, leaving many people jobless.
“A lot of people have left Nigeria because of the problems of joblessness and insecurity. It is only in Nigeria that schools will close for six months and those in charge of education have not resigned.”
He added: “The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) got salary review since 2009 and everyone knows how expensive the country has become. Politicians and Legislators earn as much as N17 to N19million monthly aside other benefits while a Professor after spending 30 years teaching, earns about N416,000 monthly.
“If politicians are earning so much, why look down on teachers? This is basterdization of public institutions,” he stated.
Cross section of participants
On the security situation bedeviling the country, he said: “When you allow criminals to come in with weapons because of the little graft they offer, it is a challenge.”
He lamented how people come into the country freely with drugs and guns because of the compromise of agencies charged with the responsibility of manning the border.
“We just have to understand the consequences of corruption. It has destroyed our value system and helped to undermine development, yet we move as if everything is alright.
“We must make politicians to be committed to proper reforms. In the last seven years, some people promised to fight corruption, provide jobs and fight insecurity. But we have all seen what is happening.”
Rafsanjani therefore urged journalists to confront politicians with appropriate questions as a way of committing them into actions and be able to demand accountability from them when they default.
Cross section of participants
While commending their past efforts, he further tasked them to help checkmate politicians, noting that without the media, it will be difficult to get the people informed as well as hold government accountable.
Speaking, the Executive Director, Women in Media Communications Initiative, Hajiya Halima Ben Umar, stressed that the media should be bold enough to demand explanation from political office seekers on how to tackle Nigeria’s problems.
“We want issue-based campaign; journalists must ask questions on what they have to offer in addressing mirage of problems confronting the country, especially with regards to women, disabled and vulnerable groups.”
The General Secretary, Kano State Civil Society Forum Peter Hassan Tijani stated that the media is key in the mission to rescue Nigeria, adding that journalists must engage in more serious issues rather than political distractions as have been trending in the media recently.
He charged journalists to focus on people-orientated issues that are capable of changing the narratives of what citizens are facing in the country. He also stressed the need for CSOs to partner the media in order to save the country from corrupt leaders.
Headlines
Abdulaziz unveils project inspection initiative, trains APC social media inflluencers at Arewa media summit
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Enlightenment, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, has unveiled a regional project inspection initiative aimed at showcasing key development projects in Northern Nigeria, while urging journalists and social media influencers to uphold ethical communication and combat misinformation.
Speaking on Monday at the maiden Arewa Media Summit in Kano, organised by his office, Abdulaziz said the gathering was conceived to strengthen dialogue between government, citizens and the media through accountability, responsibility and ethical communication.
He said effective governance depends on transparency, responsible civic engagement and a professional media that serves as a bridge between leaders and the people through factual and balanced reporting.
The presidential aide also cautioned social media influencers, who command large online audiences, to verify information before publication and avoid content capable of creating division, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
According to him, more than 100 All Progressives Congress (APC) social media communicators were trained ahead of the summit to enhance their capacity to communicate government policies, programmes and achievements effectively.
Abdulaziz also unveiled the Gani Ya Kori initiative, a regional project inspection tour designed to spotlight landmark projects executed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Northern state governors that have received limited public attention.
“The initiative will help ensure that citizens are adequately informed about development projects and government interventions across the region,” he said.
The summit also featured a keynote address by the Minister of Information and National Reorientation, Mohammed Idris, who urged journalists and social media influencers to deny bandits and terrorists the publicity they seek.
“The media has an indispensable role in denying violent extremists the publicity they seek while promoting unity, resilience and hope,” the minister said.
He stressed that democracy flourishes when government remains transparent, citizens participate responsibly and the media performs its constitutional role with professionalism, fairness and integrity.
Idris observed that while the digital revolution has transformed communication by making every smartphone a broadcasting platform, it has also accelerated the spread of fake news and disinformation capable of undermining national unity and public confidence.
Declaring the summit open, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf called on other states to emulate Kano’s Special Reporters Initiative, through which more than 150 young people have been deployed to ministries, departments, agencies and the state’s 44 local government areas to strengthen government communication and public enlightenment.
KANO FOCUS reports that the summit attracted journalists, broadcasters, filmmakers, digital content creators, academics, policymakers and communication professionals from across Northern Nigeria to deliberate on the theme, “Government, Citizens: Accountability, Responsibility and Ethical Media Practice.”
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government says it has executed 1,508 development projects worth more than N928 billion across the state’s 44 local government areas since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf assumed office, with about 80 per cent of constituency projects awarded between 2023 and 2025 already completed.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Comrade Nura Iro Ma’aji Sumaila, disclosed this during an international press briefing on the administration’s infrastructure development programme.
According to Comrade Sumaila, the projects cover critical sectors including roads, urban renewal, education, healthcare, security and other social infrastructure.
He said 799 of the projects have been completed, while 709 are at various stages of execution. He added that the state is also implementing 619 constituency projects through members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
The commissioner noted that about 80 per cent of the constituency projects have been completed. However, he said some projects remain unfinished because of rising construction costs caused by inflation.
He said the government has submitted a request to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for an upward review of contract sums to enable contractors complete the affected projects.
Breakdown of projects
Comrade Sumaila said the administration spent over N169 billion on urban renewal projects, including road rehabilitation, drainage construction and other metropolitan infrastructure.
He said another N118 billion was committed to constructing five-kilometre roads in 38 local government areas to improve connectivity across the state.
According to him, the government also awarded contracts worth over N6.8 billion for the construction of Kano State Neighbourhood Watch security divisions in 36 local government areas.
He added that rural infrastructure projects covering education, healthcare and other social interventions across the 44 local government areas account for contracts valued at more than N397 billion, while other ongoing projects have a combined value of about N255 billion.
Commitment to transparency
The commissioner said the Ministry of Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation would continue to ensure compliance with due process and technical standards in the execution of government projects.
He said the ministry’s mandate includes monitoring projects to ensure value for money and prudent utilisation of public resources.
According to him, the administration’s investments in infrastructure are intended to improve mobility, strengthen security, expand access to education and healthcare, improve water supply and stimulate economic growth across the state.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State has emerged as the highest-ranked sub-national government in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for education spending, according to the latest Sub-National Education Spending Index developed by the University of Paris.
KANO FOCUS reports that the ranking places Kano State first among 209 first-level sub-national governments across 15 ECOWAS member countries, underscoring the state’s growing reputation for prioritising investment in education.
According to the published index, Kano topped the rankings with an overall S-WAESI score of 87.21, outperforming other leading regions, including Dakar and Saint-Louis in Senegal. Lagos State was the second Nigerian state on the list, ranking 16th overall.
The assessment evaluated states and regions using the S-WAESI (Sub-National Weighted Aggregate Education Spending Index) methodology, which measures government commitment to education through indicators such as actual education expenditure, spending per student, budget execution, education priority, transparency and evidence-based reporting.
The methodology assigns 35 points to actual education spending, 25 points to spending per student, 20 points to budget execution, 10 points to education priority and 10 points to transparency.
The report indicated that Kano excelled largely due to its strong actual education spending and budget execution, making it the best-performing sub-national government in the region.
The ranking covered states, regions, districts and municipalities across Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Togo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde.
Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) said the recognition reflects Kano State Government’s sustained investment in expanding access to education, improving school infrastructure and strengthening educational planning and budget implementation.
KANO FOCUS reports that the achievement is expected to further boost the state’s profile as a leader in education reform within West Africa and provide additional momentum for ongoing efforts to improve learning outcomes across the state.
The latest ranking comes amid renewed attention on education financing across ECOWAS, with experts increasingly emphasising transparent budgeting, efficient resource utilisation and sustained public investment as critical drivers of quality education.
Gov. Yusuf tasks media on truthful reporting, patriotism
Kano launches free 48-hour emergency treatment scheme for accident victims, other critical cases
K-SAFE hails Gov. Yusuf as Kano tops ECOWAS education spending ranking
Abdulaziz unveils project inspection initiative, trains APC social media inflluencers at Arewa media summit
Kano says it executed 1,508 projects worth N928 billion in three years
Kano ranks best in ECOWAS on education spending index
Kano recruits over 16,000 teachers, begins 10-year education reform plan
Kano emerges top beneficiary as World Bank rewards states with $27m for reforms
Kano delegation participates in international labour conference in Geneva
