Headlines
Abba Kabir Yusuf appoints Sunusi Bature Chief Press Secretary
Aminu Abdullahi
The Kano State Governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has appointed a veteran journalist, Sunusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, as his chief press secretary.
KANO FOCUS reports that the appointment is contained in a letter signed on Thursday by the chairman of the Gubernatorial Transition Committee on behalf of the governor-elect.
The letter noted that Mr Dawakin-Tofa’s appointment was based on his competence, loyalty, commitment and hard work, which he exhibited since 2019.
Dawakin Tofa is a seasoned PR expert, development communication and stakeholder engagement expert with 19 years working experience in both international development, private sector and the media in Nigeria.
Until his appointment, Dawakin-Tofa is a winner of the Cambridge education award on investigative journalism in 2008.
The newly appointed CPS has worked at different capacities in various national, international and bilateral organizations such as the British Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, FCDO, the United State Agency for Internal Development, USAID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Save the Children International, Discovery Learning Alliance and the Rockefeller Foundation.
He held several positions which include general manager Corporate Services at Dantata Foods and Allied Products Limited, DFAP; director Stakeholder Engagement at YieldWise Project; country program manager at Girl Rising, ENGAGE project funded by the US Government; state project coordinator for MNCH Campaign Project of the BMGF, deputy director operations at Discovery Learning Alliance, state program officer, Policy Advocacy and Media Development, Communication and Knowledge Management specialist, among other positions.
The new Chief Press Secretary holds a Bachelor’s degree (B.A. Hons.) in Mass Communication from University of Maiduguri, National Diploma in Mass communication from Kaduna Polytechnic, a Higher National Diploma, HND, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Education and Promotion.
He also bagged MSc. in Social Work with specialization in Community Development from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, Oyo State and another Master’s degree in Public Relations, MPR, from Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
He participated in MSc program on Project Management at Robert Kennedy College, Zurich, Switzerland.
Until his appointment Dawakintofa served as the vice president, Nigeria operations for a UK based firm, Kingston Organic PLC.
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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Barau Jibrin Launches Postgraduate Foreign Scholarship Scheme for Kano Students
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Fagge, Mai Bushira, Naniya now professors as BUK Promotes 90 Senior Academics
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