News
Dangote Cement bags best ‘Contributing Employer Award’
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has named the Dangote Cement Plc as the best Contributing Employer for the year 2022 in Kogi State.
In a letter seen by KANO FOCUS, the Fund said the award is in recognition of the company’s promotion of “human resource development with a view to generating a pool of indigenous training manpower sufficient to meet the need of the economy of Kogi State and the nation in general.”
Similarly, in their subsequent visit to the Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Manager ITF Area Office Lokoja, Mr. Sokoto A. Simon said the award was also in recognition of the commitment of the company to the meeting the training needs of staff.
The ITF Area Manager thanked the organisation for supporting local manpower employment and community development through its various interventions – corporate, social and otherwise; and also praised the significant upsurge on training programs, and competent collaboration with ITF on statutory issues under the leadership of the Company’s new training and talent lead, Mr. Promise Igodo.
The ITF plaque seen by this reporter reads: “Industrial Training Fund presented to Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana plant in recognition and appreciation of your organization as the best in training contribution for 2022 within the Lokoja Area office jurisdiction.”
Members of the ITF team include: Area Manager Mr. Sokoto A. Simon; Head, Admin & HRD; Mr. Wale Suleiman, Head of Training Mr. Babatunde J. Olugbenga; among others.
Speaking during the visit, Plant Director, DCP Obajana, JV Gungune, said the company was satisfied with the collaboration with ITF in meeting the training needs of staff.
Mr. Gungune, who was represented by the Head of Production Department, Engr. John Gwong said the President and Chief Executive of the company Alhaji Aliko Dangote is passionate about job creation, staff training and the development of the Nigerian economy.
Engr. Gwong highlighted the importance of government support in capacity building through the creation of agencies as the ITF and how synergy through public private partnership ventures between organisations like Dangote Cement and ITF could greatly impart on solving socio-economic issues faced by the country.
He noted that the organisation in addition to serving the expectations of her investors and owners, is also supporting developmental needs of the people of Kogi state through its state-of-the-art technology driven operations and cement delivery value chain, while employing thousands of locales across the region.
Present on the part of the Dangote team, were: Head, Security – Major General Atolage Anthony(rtd), Admin Manager, Mr. Jumare Yusuf; Section Head, Talent Management and Learning & Development Promise Igodo; Snr Officer, Special Duties, Idoko Abubakar; Performance Management Officer, Heartrest Chinwe; and Training Officer, Odunola Olarewaju.
Only recently the company was honoured as Nigeria’s biggest employer by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Lagos, as well as Brand of the Year Award, from the Marketing Edge. These were among several other awards in its kitty.
Dangote Group is the biggest employer of labour after government.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Political allies and loyalists of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Arc Aminu Dabo, have begun resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State following his withdrawal from the ruling party.
KANO FOCUS reports that the supporters, operating under the political group Dabo Alheri Ne, reportedly include members across Kano State’s 44 local government areas.
Barely two days after Dabo announced his resignation from the APC, a prominent stakeholder of the group, Garba Zakiru Dambatta, said members had welcomed the decision and were showing solidarity by submitting their resignation letters to their respective ward party chairmen.
Dambatta, a former APC chairman in Dambatta Local Government Area, said the group’s members were disappointed with what they described as the prolonged marginalisation of Mr Dabo and his supporters within the party.
According to him, despite Mr Dabo’s contributions to the APC and efforts to strengthen the party and manage disagreements among its members, some key stakeholders had continued to sideline him and his loyalists in party activities.
Dambatta reaffirmed the group’s commitment to standing by Mr Dabo’s political decisions and supporting his future political journey.
He also urged the former NPA managing director not to succumb to political pressure or reverse his decision to leave the party.
“This step you have taken, we have the conviction that it is the beginning of a new chapter of goodness in your life,” Dambatta said.
Among the prominent members of the group identified as supporting Mr Dabo’s decision are Abba Rabee’u, a former Senior Special Assistant on Political Awareness; Almustapha Jilani Danmalam, a former Senior Special Assistant on Education; Jamilu Abdullahi Zangon-Mata, a former Senior Special Assistant on Entrepreneurship; and Fahd A. Dabo, a former Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation.
The individuals reportedly served during the second term of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The group also said several other party loyalists and supporters were backing Dabo following his resignation.
However, the statement did not provide the number of members who had formally resigned from the APC or indicate whether the party leadership had responded to the development.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Five players of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Club have been invited to the national camp of Nigeria’s Special Super Eagles ahead of the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.
KANO FOCUS reports that invited players are Isah Yusuf, Abba Musa, Habu Friday, Emanuel Betel and Usman Ahmed. They are currently in Abuja with the national team as preparations intensify for the global tournament.
The Team Manager of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Team, Jamilu Uba Adamu, disclosed this in an interview with Ashiru Rabiu Gidan Tudu, Information Officer of the Kano State Sports Commission.
Adamu described the invitation as recognition of the players’ dedication, discipline and outstanding performances.
He expressed confidence that the players would represent Kano State and Nigeria with honour at the championship.
According to him, the call-up also demonstrates Kano Pillars’ commitment to nurturing talented amputee footballers and contributing to the development of the sport in Nigeria.
The 2026 Amputee Football World Cup is scheduled to take place from November 13 to 22 in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico. A total of 24 countries, including seven African nations, are expected to participate.
The Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, congratulated the five players on their invitation, describing it as well deserved.
Babangida expressed confidence that they would justify the confidence reposed in them by the national team selectors.
He assured the players of the commission’s continued support and urged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to making Kano State and Nigeria proud on the international stage.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Professor Muhammad Ahmad Makarfi of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has identified inclusive microfinance as a critical tool for addressing food insecurity and poverty in Nigeria.
KANO FOCUS reports that Prof. Makarfi, of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, made the recommendation while delivering the university’s 64th Professorial Inaugural Lecture on Thursday, October 14, 2026, at the CBN Centre of Excellence.
The lecture, titled *“Innovative Options for Nigeria’s Food Security and Poverty Alleviation: The Microfinance Pathway to Sustainable Development,”* examined how improved access to affordable financing could boost agricultural production and strengthen rural livelihoods.
The professor said that despite Nigeria’s vast agricultural resources, food production and rural livelihoods continued to face challenges, including limited access to affordable finance, insecurity, climate change, inadequate infrastructure and low agricultural productivity.
He argued that expanding access to agricultural finance, particularly for smallholder farmers, would encourage investment, improve productivity and strengthen the country’s food security.
Prof. Makarfi reviewed Nigeria’s agricultural financing policies and interventions, highlighting the need for innovative credit delivery systems that would make funding more accessible, affordable and sustainable for farmers.
He identified microfinance institutions and Islamic finance models as potential avenues for improving access to agricultural credit.
In his recommendations, the professor said sustainable food security and poverty reduction required policies that prioritised increased domestic agricultural production through better access to finance, modern technologies, quality farm inputs and markets.
He also called for stronger microfinance institutions, expanded farmer-friendly financing mechanisms and an enabling environment to attract investment across the agricultural value chain.
According to him, such measures would improve agricultural productivity, enhance livelihoods and accelerate Nigeria’s sustainable development.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of BUK, Professor Haruna Musa, who chaired the lecture, was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Professor Ahmad Muhammad Tsauni.
Prof. Musa commended the lecturer for choosing a topic that addressed critical issues surrounding food insecurity, livelihoods and agricultural development.
The Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Aminu Sulaiman, who presented the lecturer’s citation, said Mr Makarfi had published more than 150 local and international publications, contributed 10 book chapters and authored eight books.
Professor Mahmoud Ibrahim Daneji, who represented the Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, delivered the vote of thanks.
Dabo’s resignation triggers wave of defections from APC in Kano
Five Kano Pillars Amputee Players Invited to Special Eagles Camp Ahead of World Cup
BUK Professor advocates microfinance to tackle food insecurity, poverty
General Elections 2027: Abba Kabir Yusuf traverses the path to victory
Former NPA MD Aminu Dabo resigns as APC caucus chairman in Dambatta
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