Headlines
2023: Yiaga Africa hosts young Northern Candidates in Kano
Nasiru Yusuf
About 150 young candidates contesting for political offices in northern Nigeria converged in Kano state for the Yiaga Africa and NotTooYoungToRun convergence 4.0.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Convergence 4.0 is a capacity-building event aimed at training young candidates on the tenets of leadership and governance.
Speaking at the occasion the Development Director of the British High Commission, Christopher Pycroft, has tasked young Nigerians to join politics as their role in political leadership and governance generally is hugely important for Nigeria’s development and democracy.
Mr Christopher Pycroft,
Mr Pycroft explained that “Your active participation as young people is critical to the quality and outcomes of Nigeria’s democratic engagement and progress.”
Adding that “Nigeria is a young country with an average age of its population is just over 17. But young people are too often excluded from Nigeria’s political processes, left without a voice, without influence”
“Inclusive political participation is crucial to building stable and peaceful societies, and to building an effective social contract that establishes the relationship between the state and its citizens“ He added.
Cross section of participants
The Development Director described the passing of the “Not Too Young To Run” Bill as a major milestone.
“It was followed by a clear increase in the number of young candidates and elected officials at the last general election”
“From 5.1 percent of elected officials in 2015 to 6.6 percent in 2019, a modest increase, but an important trend.” he applauded
He explained that despite recording 76 percent of newly registered youths since the last general elections.
Cross section of participants
Adding that, yet at the 2019 general elections, only 46 percent of young people turned out to vote at the Presidential and National Assembly elections
“YIAGA Africa’s assessment shows a decline in young candidature from 2019 to 2023.” he pointed
Mr Pycroft stressed that young women are being further left behind in the push to strengthen youth political participation in Nigeria as women accounted for less than 5 percent of elected officials in the 2019 general elections.
“Nevertheless, I am encouraged by the enthusiasm and commitment to youth and women’s participation by organizations such as YIAGA Africa and other partners in the room” he said.
The Development Director revealed that the UK has been a long-term strategic supporter of Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Cross section of participants
Adding that “we believe that peaceful, transparent and credible polls in 2023 are fundamental to consolidating the gains of Nigeria’s democratic journey.”
The Development Director pledged that the British High Commission will continue to support and work with YIAGA Africa and its partners to secure a more inclusive and strong democracy.
Cross section of participants
Earlier, the Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo vowed to mobilize support for young politicians vying for elective offices especially those who have competency, character and capacity to address the underdevelopment challenge facing the nation.
Itodo, said the participants were drawn from the northern parts of the country and were mentored and exposed to understanding the electoral law, INEC guidelines, technical resources, leadership skills, and political communication among others to prepare them ahead of 2023 general elections.
Mr Samson Itodo
He said that the aim of the movement is to create awareness on the need to enlighten the youth to summon courage to replace the expired politicians who constituted themselves to the progress of youths in the country.
He noted that the population of the country was dominated by young people but they were not having chance of being elected into governance of this country, a situation that the Yiaga Africa is selling to the youth to wake them up from slumber.
According to him, the political leaders in this country were in minority going by the huge population of the youth in the country.
He however noted that the call is yielding result because for now, “we have elected members between 25 years and 39 who ran offices in 2019 and won their elections.
“Today, over 48 percent of candidates presented by political parties for 2023 elections are young people.”
In his presentation Deputy General Editor of Daily Trust Newspaper Abdulaziz Abdulaziz identified some obstacles that poses seeious challenge to young candidates in including lack of inexperience and resources to favourably compete with veterans politicians.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz
He therefore advised them to leverage on effective political communication to stand out of the crowd.
“With veterans and moneybags, some of whom have been in the game since the return to democracy in 1999, the space is very competitive. The young aspirant, often by default the person with the least political experience and financial muscle, would have to be ingenious.
“You need to market yourself and your vision directly and aggressively to the electorate. You are your number one
marketer. In marketing yourself, the first and most important issue is defining your vision or message. You need to be clear and definitive about this,” Mr Abdulaziz advised.
He stressed that “To achieve preferability in the minds of the voters. You need to communicate, effectively, in order to stand out from the crowd. You therefore need to reach out the voters as aggressively as you can.”
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has been awarded a prestigious Fellowship by the United States Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership.
According to a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Institute also presented Governor Yusuf with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his efforts in human capital development and resource management.
The recognition was conferred by representatives of the Institute’s Governing Council, led by Barr. (Dr.) Steven Longe, during an investiture ceremony at the Abuja Governor’s Lodge.
This event followed shortly after the governor received the National Award from the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) during the World Teachers’ Day celebration.
Dr. Longe explained that the decision to honor Governor Yusuf with the Institute’s highest Fellowship and an Award of Excellence came after extensive research into his effective management of both human and financial resources.
The research highlighted his dedication to promoting good governance in Kano, Nigeria’s most populous state.
“Your leadership has been marked by prudence and transparency,” said Dr. Longe.
“You embody the qualities of an accountable and dedicated leader.
We are proud to associate with politicians who are committed to selfless service to their people.”
In his response, Governor Yusuf expressed his gratitude for the Fellowship and thanked the Institute for recognizing his leadership qualities on an international platform.
“Despite the many challenges we have faced since the beginning of this administration, our commitment to serving the people of Kano remains unwavering.
We will continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people,” the governor assured.
Headlines
World Teachers’ Day 2024: NUT Honors Gov.Yusuf for Outstanding Performance in Education Reform
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has honored Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, with a prestigious award for his exceptional performance in reforming the state’s education sector.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa on Saturday.
The award was presented during the celebration of World Teachers’ Day 2024 at Eagle Square, Abuja, in a vibrant event organized in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.
The event brought together teachers from across the 36 states of Nigeria to honor the significant contributions made to the education sector.
Governor Yusuf was recognized with the NUT Golden Award for his transformative efforts in rescuing Kano’s education sector from years of decay and neglect.
In his remarks, NUT National Chairman, Comrade Titus Ambe, noted that only six governors were selected for this honor, based on their unwavering commitment to advancing education, particularly through the support of teachers’ welfare and continuous training.
Specifically, Governor Yusuf’s accomplishments were highlighted, including his administration’s allocation of 29.9% of Kano’s 2024 budget to education and his declaration of a state of emergency in the sector, which has significantly improved both infrastructure and access to quality education in the state.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, commended the governors for their dedication.
Speaking on behalf of the six awardees, which included the Governors of Borno, Oyo, Benue, Enugu, and Kebbi states, Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his commitment to further investing in education, emphasizing the importance of sustaining progress to ensure future generations thrive.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The major opposition political party in Kano, the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Friday instituted a fresh suit against the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, before the Federal High Court sitting in Kano.
KANO FOCUS reports that the party is asking the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from releasing voter register for the conduct of the council poll.
The plaintiffs, APC and the party Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, instituted the suit through their counsel, Ismail Abdulaziz.
They also sought an interlocutory application to restrain the state electoral body from continuing with the process and conduct of the council election slated for 26th October, 2024.
Defendants joined in the suit include, the Kano State Attorney General, Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, KANSIEC Chairman, Sani Lawan and other members.
Abdulaziz said, “we are asking for the court to interpret some provisions of the constitution, KANSIEC guidelines, the law itself in seeking whether KANSIEC is a revenue generating agency and considering that the N9m and N4m requested to be paid by Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates by KANSIEC were exorbitant.
“We want the court to determine whether KANSIEC will be impartial looking at present members that constituted the commission.
“We are also seeking the court to order INEC not to release election materials such as voter register to KANSIEC until the commission abide by the provision of the constitution.
“We now sought for interlocutory injunction to restrain the continuation of the continuing with process and conduct of the election. The defendants did not receive our processes and the court adjourned till next Friday so that all the parties to file their responses,” Abdulaziz said.
Moving the application before the Presiding Judge, Justice Simon Amobeda, on Friday the court adjourned the matter till 11th October, 2024 and ordered the plaintiffs to serve the defendants.
Meanwhile, in a related matter, the Counsels to Kano State government, Rilwanu Umar SAN and Kano State House of Assembly, Bar. Bashir Yusuf said they have filed a preliminary objections before the Justice Amobeda challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear matters concerning KANSIEC.
The Counsels said only state high court and state assembly have the powers to entertain any matter that border on regulations of KANSIEC and not federal agency or so.
Kano state government application came in response to motion on notice moved by APC and one Aliyu Aminu Tiga on why the court should not stop the conduct of the election.
Recall one Aminu Aliyu Tiga and the APC had earlier filed an application seeking the court to stop the electoral body from conducting the elections in which Justice Amobeda in interim refused to grant and however noted that the defendants shall be put on notice to show cause why the prayers shall not be granted.
The Court presided by Justice Simon Amobeda however adjourned the matter till 11th October for hearing.
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