Headlines
Kano CSOs crisis: BOT endorses Waiya’s leadership

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Board of Trustees of Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) has endorsed the leadership of Ibrahim Waiya.

KANO FOCUS reports that the BOT made this known on Thursday after a group of three persons who described themselves as ‘concerned’ members of the Form announced the suspension of the leadership of the Forum.
According to the BOT Secretary, Hamisu Isa Sharifai, there is no such thing as body of ‘Concerned Members’ that can exercise the powers of the Congress (which consists of over one hundred organizations) or the BOT and as such the suspension and announcement should be disregarded by both members and the general public.
He said, under the circumstances the BOT directs that the management team of the KCSF under the leadership of Ibrahim Waiya, should continue to do so, and the constituted Electoral Committee set uuo by the BOT 3 weeks ago should go on with the arrangements for the elections.
“We call on all members who are truly concerned with the progress of the Forum to stand together as a united body, so that the elections can hold in strict compliance with the KCSF Constitution”.
“Let us all remain resolute in pursuing the ideals of justice, good democratic practice and societal progress that brought us together”, he added.
Interim Leadership of Kano CSOs Dissolved Amidst Concerns of Democratic Breach
It will be recalled that the Concerned Members of the Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) have officially dissolved the interim leadership of the forum under the leadership of Ibrahim Waiya.
In a statement released to newsmen from KSCF’s secretariat under the chairmanship of Abdullahi Y. Sule, disclosed the decision comes in response to what they claim are violations of democratic principles and good governance within the organization.
KCSF, which represents over 100 civil society and pro-democracy organizations in Kano State, was established in 2012 with the mission to promote democracy, human rights, good governance, and peace and security in the state and Nigeria as a whole.
The Concerned Members expressed their deep concerns about ongoing violations of democratic principles and good governance by the current interim leadership.
One major issue raised was the extended delay in conducting democratic elections within the forum, which was initially mandated to take place within six months but had stretched to an astonishing seven years. This raised questions about transparency, accountability, and the commitment to democratic representation within the forum.
Another alarming issue brought to light was the forceful removal of members from the central WhatsApp group of the forum for expressing dissenting views. This authoritarian approach was seen as stifling freedom of expression and undermining the essence of a civil society coalition meant to foster dialogue and inclusivity.
Inconsistencies and contradictions between the interim leadership and the Board of Trustees (BOT) were also cited. These included disputes over the establishment of an electoral committee versus an election strategy committee, causing confusion and discord within the organization.
The Concerned Members also pointed out that the KCSF constitution, which the interim leadership frequently referred to, was still a draft and not yet adopted by the CONGRESS, making its provisions non-binding until formal adoption.
Furthermore, the growing partisanship displayed by the interim leadership was criticized for violating the core principle of impartiality and neutrality that should define a civil society coalition. It was argued that such partisanship undermines the forum’s credibility and its ability to work collaboratively with government institutions.
The Concerned Members emphasized that these violations have far-reaching implications, including undermining the forum’s credibility, advocacy capacity, and its ability to champion citizens’ rights.
They called for the dissolution of the interim leadership and urged the BOT to facilitate a congress meeting where democratically elected executives can emerge.
The Concerned Members however called for calm and law-abiding behavior among all KCSF members during these challenging times as they continue to push for the establishment of a democratically elected leadership within the forum.
They also requested the general public to refrain from engaging with the dissolved interim leadership and direct all official matters to the KCSF BOT until new leadership is established.

Headlines
Dangote donates N15billion to Kano varsity, offers Automatic jobs to best graduating students

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Group President of the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has announced the donation of a whooping N15billion to the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil (ADUSTECH), Kano State.

KANO FOCUS reports that. Alhaji Dangote, who is also the Chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) was reappointed the Chancellor of the University.
In his speech at the 5th convocation ceremony, he said the University must be repositioned to lead the race of producing cutting edge research and highly skilled manpower that meets the requirements of market demands, industries and real problem solvers in the Nigerian society.
He said: “It is in this vein that I wish to use this opportunity to announce the launch of the 5-year Development plan which I envision for this institution.
“Over the next 5 years, we will commit the sum of N15 billion to the following projects: the design and construction of additional student hostels; the design and construction of a world class Engineering Lab; the design and construction of a world class multipurpose computer lab -open to all students of the institution which will also be equipped with 24-hour internet access to support academic research and the installation of a mini-solar plant to support access to power on campus.”
He added that: “We also undertake to design and construct a befitting Senate building that will house the administration of this institution. Finally, we will also reserve post-NYSC employment slots for the best performing graduates in Engineering and other related courses that form part of our areas of interest at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Plant and Dangote Cement Plants.”
Alhaji Dangote said the funding for such an institution places a significant burden on the government, which is why, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, it was able to offset the University’s electricity bill to ease the strain on their finances.
“Additionally, to support the infrastructural drive of the University, we built two blocks of Male and Female Hostels with 500 bed spaces each.
“We also ensured the availability of electricity in a specialized University like ours for continuous teaching, learning and research, via the connection of the University to a 33KVA line, and provided a 2.5 MVA transformer and six (6) step-down transformers. This, I believe, has gone a long way in solving the energy needs of the University.”
Dangote therefore congratulated the vision of those who dreamt of the institution 25 years ago.
“An institution that began with a student population of 88, today has a population of more than 21,877 students and this combined convocation has a total of about 18,000 graduates. This is indeed a milestone,” he added.
In his address, Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf of Kano State commended Alhaji Dangote for contributing financially and morally towards the development of the University, adding that, “all of us will continue to remember you as a visionary and African illustrious industrialist.”
The University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Musa Tukur Yakasa said 18,000 students were being celebrated during the convocation ceremony, having graduated from the university in the last ten years to date.
Business mogul Chief Arthur Eze, founder of Max Air and billionaire Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, Senior Advocate Ahmad Adeniyi Raji, and oil magnate and founder of Amasco Oil Al-Mustapha Ado bagged honorary doctorate degrees.
The VC said the University has recorded significant strides in its academic journey to greater heights, including program accreditation and a mathematical digital model designed by a university product, Mahmoud Mubarak, for measuring deforestation density.

Headlines
BUK Achieves 100% Success in 2024 NUC Accreditation: 53 Programmes Fully Approved

Mu
Bayero University, Kano (BUK) has recorded a landmark academic achievement following the release of the results from the 2024 accreditation exercise conducted by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
In what has been described as a resounding endorsement of the University’s academic standards and quality assurance framework, all 53 academic programmes presented for evaluation were granted full accreditation or accredited status.
The accreditation, conducted between October and November 2024, covered undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across key faculties including Administration, Agriculture, Allied Health Sciences, Arts, Computing, Education, Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Social Sciences.
According to a statement signed by the University Registrar, Haruna Aliyu, the development affirms BUK’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, curriculum innovation, and sustained infrastructural and faculty development.

“This milestone is a testimony to the quality of education and institutional governance at BUK. It validates our position as one of Nigeria’s premier universities,” the statement said.
Key Highlights:
• Administration Faculty recorded full accreditation across 13 programmes including the Master of Accounting and Financial Management, MBA, and Islamic Banking & Finance.
• Agriculture, Medicine, Pharmacy, and all Engineering programmes received full accreditation, reinforcing the University’s strength in science-based disciplines.
• The Education Faculty had a sweeping success with 14 programmes earning full accreditation.
• Courses in Arts, Social Sciences, Computing, and Science were all rated “Full” by the NUC.
This success is more than academic—it means that all current and prospective students of these programmes can be assured that their education meets the highest national standards. It also ensures the continued recognition of their certificates for employment, postgraduate studies, and participation in national youth service.
Strengthening Nigeria’s Higher Education Landscape
The Registrar expressed appreciation to the National Universities Commission for its rigorous evaluation process and acknowledged the dedication of BUK’s Deans, Heads of Departments, academic staff, and support personnel who worked tirelessly to meet and surpass the benchmarks.
“This achievement is not an end but a motivation to continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge, research, and community engagement. We remain committed to nurturing leaders and innovators who will contribute meaningfully to Nigeria and the world,” he added.
As BUK celebrates this landmark, the University is inviting stakeholders, prospective students, parents, and the global academic community to partner in its journey of growth and excellence.

Headlines
Governor Yusuf Pays Over 3 Billion for Secondary School Students to Sit for NECO, NABTEB, NBAIS

Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expended over 3 billion naira for 141,175 (one hundred and forty-one thousand, one hundred and seventy-five) Kano students who passed the 2024 qualifying examinations to sit for this year’s NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS (2025).
In a statement issued by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Information, Ibrahim Adam, it was noted that the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, announced to newsmen in Kano that the State Ministry of Education had released the results of the qualifying examinations for secondary school students in Kano.
These students are studying under the Kano State Teachers Service Board and the Science and Technical Schools Board, where 75 percent of them qualified to write the senior school certificate examinations of NABTEB, NECO, and NBAIS (for Arabic students).
Ali Haruna Makoda stated that the students eligible for payment by the Kano State Government under Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf are those who scored five credits and above.

The Commissioner maintained that all secondary school principals and directors should notify their students of their results so that the state government can effect the payment.
The 2025 qualifying exams for NECO, and NABTEB will enable the students to sit for their 2025 examinations required for admission into tertiary education.
Ibrahim Adam, the Special Adviser to Governor Yusuf on Information, said that since the inception of the administration in May 2023, it has settled registration fees for Kano indigent students for NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS.
The Special Adviser pointed out that apart from settling the fees, Governor Yusuf’s administration has also paid huge outstanding debts for NECO, and NABTEB left behind by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration.
He also said it is part of Governor Yusuf’s declaration of a state of emergency on education and an effort to mitigate the high number of out-of-school children that have bedeviled the state.
