Headlines
Lecturers at Kano state owned universities reject government appeal to pull out of strike
Nasiru Yusuf
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), in Kano state-owned institutions, has rejected the position of the government to pull out of the nationwide indefinite strike action.
KANO FOCUS reports that, Instead, ASUU insisted it would remain steadfast and fully committed to the national struggle to revitalise public universities and improve the welfare of members until the Federal Government met her demands.
Rising from an emergency meeting at the instance of delegation of the state government, headed by Head of Service, Alh. Usman Bala, ASUU Zonal Chairman, Kano zone, Professor Abdulkadir Muhammad Dambazau, vowed to bear any consequences that might follow their stand.
“We have made our position known to the government in clear terms and our position will never change. That we are committed to the course of the strike as full chartered members of ASUU. And until the Federal Government attended to our agreement, we would not be forced to pull out of the strike.
“Let me also say that ASUU in Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology Wudil, has secured permission to embark on an indefinite strike after the nationwide action to press home demand for resolution of local issues,” Dambazau said.
On whether the union would rethink her position, he insisted no amount of dialogue with the government would change their position.
The state government had summoned another meeting with the leadership of ASUU to prevail on them on reasons why the union should pull out of the over six months strike.
Addressing journalists at the end of the four hours meeting, the head of the service, Bala disclosed that the engagement with ASUU was fruitful, but was not sure whether or not they agreed to pull out of the strike.
Bala, who doubles as Chief of Staff to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, appealed to the striking lecturers from Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil and the Yusuf Maitama Sule University, to consider the plight of students and the negative implications of keeping them out of the classroom.
The head of the service had declared that ASUU in the state universities shouldn’t have aligned with lecturers in the Federal government-owned universities, since the Kano State government has sustained their salaries and other allowances in the last six months.
“We had a fruitful discussion and we were made to understand the many reasons why they are on strike. Although they said they also have local issues, I know the government has been paying their salaries and earned allowances in the last six months while on strike.
“We persuaded them to return to work, however, they said they can hardly make decisions on their own, meaning they have to seek the intervention of the larger body. So, the meeting is scheduled to reconvene in one week to finalize all the pending issues,” Bala noted.
On what alternative measures are available to the government should ASUU remain insisted on continuing with the industrial action, the head of the service noted that the government would not hesitate to invoke necessary sanctions after exploring all peaceful resolution mechanisms.
Former Kano State Governor and Senator, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has voiced his disappointment and concern regarding the Federal Government’s approach to distributing rice palliatives in Kano State.
During a recent week-long visit to Kano, Senator Kwankwaso observed that while governors in 35 other states received the palliatives directly, Kano’s allocation was controversially handed over to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), sidestepping the state government entirely.
Senator Kwankwaso condemned this move as a blatant violation of constitutional principles, accusing the government of taking partisanship to an unacceptable level.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately suspend the distribution process and address the issue.
In addition, Senator Kwankwaso expressed concern over the frequent reshuffling of State Directors of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kano, noting that three different directors had been posted and reposted within just two weeks, potentially jeopardizing the state’s security.
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has inaugurated a postgraduate foreign scholarship program under his foundation, aimed at providing advanced educational opportunities for students from Kano.
The scholarship will enable beneficiaries to pursue postgraduate studies in cutting-edge fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Cybersecurity and Forensic Science, and Robotics Technology in India, China, and Thailand.
During a ceremony in Kano on Monday, where admission letters were distributed to the first batch of 70 recipients, Jibrin emphasized that the selected students would embark on two-year postgraduate programs in these technologically advanced fields.
Jibrin highlighted the rigorous and transparent selection process overseen by a dedicated committee, which prioritized academic excellence.
Only candidates with first-class or second-class upper degrees were considered, ensuring that the most qualified students were chosen.
He stressed that the process was impartial, noting that he had no personal connections with any of the beneficiaries.
Importantly, the scholarship is not limited to students from Kano North, Jibrin’s senatorial district, but is inclusive of all 44 local government areas in Kano State.
“Our goal is to invest in the future of our youth through education,” Jibrin stated.
“We carefully selected these areas of study because they are at the forefront of modern technology.
“This initiative is designed to equip our students with the skills needed for the overall development of our nation.”
Jibrin encouraged the beneficiaries to be diligent in their studies and to represent Nigeria positively in their host countries.
He also expressed that students who find opportunities abroad after their studies are welcome to stay and gain further experience before returning to Nigeria.
Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, lauded Jibrin for his commitment to advancing education and providing such opportunities for Kano’s youth.
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
In a significant academic milestone, the Senate of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) has approved the promotion of 90 senior academics to the ranks of Professors and Associate Professors.
KANO FOCUS reports that the decision was made during the Senate’s 416th meeting, held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
The promotion list includes 45 academics who have attained the rank of Professor, further bolstering BUK’s academic reputation across various disciplines.
Among those promoted to Professor are Dr. Umar Sani Fagge, now Professor of Arabic Language; Dr. Ibrahim Muazzam Saminu Maibushira, Professor of Islamic Thought and Civilization; and Dr. Tijjani Muhammad Naniya, who has been elevated to Professor of Social and Political History.
In the sciences, Dr. Mukhtar Ridwanu Bunza has been promoted to Professor of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, while Dr. Kasim Muhammad has become Professor of Environmental Engineering. Other notable promotions include Dr. Murtala M. Badamasi as Professor of Geography and Dr. Salisu Maiwada Abubakar as Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry.
The list also highlights the promotion of five female academics to full Professorships, underscoring BUK’s commitment to gender diversity in academia. Among them are Dr. Ummulkhair A. Dantata, now Professor of Hausa Language; Dr. Latifa Musa Pedro, Professor of Health Economics; and Dr. Hauwa Musa Abdullahi, who has become Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
In addition to these promotions, 45 academics have been elevated to the rank of Associate Professor.
This includes Dr. Lawal Muhammad Bello in Electrical Engineering, Dr. Warshu Tijjani Rabi’u in Islamic Studies & Shari’ah, and Sunusi Iguda in Mass Communication.
This wave of promotions reflects BUK’s dedication to academic excellence and its ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of education and research within the institution.
The university continues to position itself as a leading center of learning and scholarship in Nigeria and beyond.
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