Headlines
CAJA expresses concern over sexual harassment in tertiary institutions
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Continued occurrence of sexual harassment in higher institutions of learning in the country has been
disturbing Center for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA).
The menace seems to be on the increase.
KANO FOCUS observed that the perpetrators of such act seem to be
getting away with it as rare or no punishment has been meted against them.
If punishment is meted against such
perpetrators, the gesture would really
serve as a deterrent against others.
CAJA is lending a campaign against the
act in the country’s institutions of learning.
Cross section of participants
That is why it recently organized an
interactive stakeholders’ session at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano metropolis with a view to deepening discussion on the issue.
The theme of the event was: ‘The Role
of the Media on Curbing the Menace of
Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions.’
The center invited seasoned panelists
who shared their views and perspectives on how best journalists or stakeholders could do to end the menace.
The panelists were Malama Nafisa
Murtala Ahmad from Exrpress Radio;
Malama Sadiya Aliyu from Solace Base
and Malam Mustapha Gambo Muhammad from Pyramid Radio respectively.
Cross section of participants
During the event proper, journalists and students from various media organizations and institutions of learning in the state, held the view that there should be more commitment of stakeholders in pursuing cases of sexual harassment to logical conclusion.
Stakeholders observed that it was not
only the males that perpetrate the act,
even the females, to some extent, do engage in such harassment.
They however observed lack of or non
availability of serious codes in tertiary institutions that spell the punishment to be meted against the perpetrators.
They posited that there should be written documents that would warn any would-be perpetrator of the act and the punishment to be meted on him or her.
They acknowledged that most cases
treated on sexual harassment, in the past, in some institutions of learning in the country, hinged on dismissal of the culprits – that is all, saying that apart from dismissal, the culprits should be made to face the wrath of the law of the land.
Nafisa Murtala Ahmad
It was observed that not only indecency used to attract sexual harassment, but
however, even ladies in Hijab used to fall victims of the menace.
Again, what drew attention of participants at the event was the issue of a bill laying before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his assent.
The bill tagged: ‘Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions Prohibition Bill 2023,’ if passed into law, would help a lot in addressing or wiping out the menace or its eradication completely from the nation’s tertiary institutions.
That is CAJA or its partners like Evelyn
T. Ugbe, the Vulnerable Population Sector Manager and Mr. Eric Umoru from Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) team, who attended the event all the way from Abuja, the capital of the nation, posited that the media should pursue the passage of the bill vigorously as it provided preventive mechanism to the nation’s students against the menace.
Ugbe said the media should maintain
the momentum so that assent to the bill
should see the light of the day.
In his votes of thank, the Senior Program Officer of CAJA, Malam Akibu Hamisu Garko, while thanking everybody for attending the event, said they took the campaign against the menace in tertiary institutions in the state as very significant so as to eradicate it completely.
Malam Akibu Hamisu Garko
Garko said creating awareness
about the menace in the institutions would help in doing away with it, adding that the students in such institutions should know the existence of such clusters around them with a view to knowing the needed things to do in case of any harassment.
He urged the media to do the needful
and understand the cluster in tertiary institutions, which he added had done a lot on seeing that the bill waiting to be assented by the presidency scaled through.
He said what they prayed for was the
inauguration of an independent sexual harassment committee that would ginger up efforts towards actualizing the dream of their organization.
The Executive Director of CAJA, Malam
Kabir Sa’id Dakata, coordinated the
panel session of the event very well.
Ibrahim Khalil
Residents of Tsakuwa community in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of Kano State have honoured 11 individuals for their outstanding contributions to the development of the town.
KANO FOCUS reports that the awards were presented during the 6th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Tsakuwa Mufarka Sustainable Development Association, held on Sunday at Central Primary School, Tsakuwa.
Among those honoured were the traditional ruler of the community, Sarkin Tsakuwa, Alhaji Isma’ila Santali Tsakuwa; the Chairman of the Tsakuwa Mufarka Sustainable Development Association, Alhaji Tasiu Alhassan Tsakuwa; and a retired headmaster of Central Primary School, Tsakuwa, Alhaji Mahmuda Shehu, who continues to offer voluntary teaching services to pupils in the community.
Also recognised was Alhaji Umar Muhammad Banupe, a Nupe businessman who settled in Tsakuwa and has become an integral part of the community. He was honoured for his significant contributions to the town’s development.
Alhaji Umar Muhammad Banupe receiving a certificate
Other award recipients included the Chairman of the Northwest Development Commission, Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji (Garkuwan Tsakuwa); the Commander of the Gombe State Hisbah Command, Malam Rabiu Idris; media practitioner Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim of Abubakar Rimi Television Corporation (ARTV); the founder of Tsakuwa Mufarka Sustainable Development Association, Malam Ibrahim Almustapha Sani; and Sulaiman Salisu Babah, among others.
Alhaji Tasiu Alhassan presenting a certificate to Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Speaking at the event, the Sarkin Tsakuwa, Alhaji Isma’ila Santali Tsakuwa, commended the leadership of the association for its commitment to community development and urged members to sustain their efforts toward improving the welfare of residents.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the association, Alhaji Tasiu Alhassan Tsakuwa, said the non-partisan organisation had prioritised interventions in education, security, and healthcare.
He appealed to members of the community to sustain their monthly financial contributions to enable the association to continue implementing development projects.
Earlier, a member of the association, Malam Abdullahi Wagadi, disclosed that the group generated ₦6.56 million through members’ monthly contributions over the past year.
According to him, the association spent ₦3.84 million on allowances for volunteer teachers and vigilantes, ₦564,000 on fencing the Eid prayer ground, and ₦1.255 million on the renovation of the community police outpost.
He further stated that ₦356,000 was spent on supporting Tsakuwa Model Primary School, ₦430,000 on scholarships for students, ₦700,000 on instructional materials, and ₦50,000 on health assistance for vulnerable residents.
Association Raises Over ₦2.1 Million at AGM
A major highlight of the AGM was the fundraising session, during which the association raised ₦2.143 million from philanthropists and community stakeholders.
Leading the donations was Alhaji Umar Muhammad Banupe, who contributed ₦500,000. He was followed by Hon. Mustapha Bala Dawaki, who also donated ₦500,000, while Hon. Abdulmumin Tijjani, popularly known as Mai POS, donated ₦200,000.
Other donors included the Sarkin Tsakuwa, Alhaji Isma’ila Santali Tsakuwa, who donated ₦100,000; the association’s chairman, Alhaji Tasiu Alhassan Tsakuwa, ₦200,000; Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji Garkuwan Tsakuwa), ₦100,000; and Malam Rabiu Idris, who also contributed ₦100,000.
The event attracted community leaders, stakeholders, and residents who commended the association for its contributions to grassroots development and pledged continued support for its programmes.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Health journalists in Kano State have inaugurated a new professional body, the Kano Health Journalists Network (KAHJON), aimed at strengthening media reporting and advocacy on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and Primary Health Care (PHC).
KANO FOCUS reports that the network was launched during an Alignment, Coordination, Monitoring and Implementation meeting of media coalitions on gender-responsive RMNCAH and PHC, organised by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) in Kano.
During the inauguration, journalists unanimously elected Khadijah Aliyu of Radio Nigeria as Chairperson of the newly established network.
Other members of the executive committee include Mustapha Hodi Adamu of People Daily Newspaper as Vice Chairperson, Abdullahi Hassan of ARTV as Secretary, and Mustapha Salisu of Prime Times as Public Relations Officer.
Speaking at the event, the Programme Director of ISMPH, Mr. Solomon Dogo, said the establishment of KAHJON would help unify existing health reporting groups and improve media coverage of critical public health issues, including polio eradication, nutrition, maternal health, and primary healthcare services.
He congratulated the newly elected executives and expressed confidence that the network would enhance collaboration among media practitioners while strengthening health advocacy efforts in the state.
Dogo noted that similar health journalists’ networks are already operating in Lagos and Kaduna states, adding that development partners remain committed to supporting initiatives that promote public health advocacy.
Also speaking, ISMPH Programme Officer in Kano, Hajiya Sabuwa Yahaya, said the platform would improve coordination among journalists, enhance access to health information, and strengthen evidence-based reporting on health issues.
According to her, the network will also provide a stronger platform for advocacy and engagement with government institutions, development partners, and local communities.
The inauguration ceremony attracted goodwill messages from several development partners, including the Integrated Budget and Policy (IBP), LISDEL, CCSI, SANDHEF, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).
Representatives of the Kano State Ministry of Health, the Drug Management and Consumables Supply Agency, and the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency also attended the event.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which formally established the Kano Health Journalists Network and marked the beginning of a new chapter in health journalism and advocacy in the state.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
A House of Representatives aspirant for the Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam Federal Constituency under the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Mahmud Tijjani Kura, has withdrawn his candidature and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
KANO FOCUS reports that the development was disclosed on Saturday by a prominent APC chieftain, Alhaji Aliyu Lawan Dambatta, popularly known as Majidadin Dambatta.
According to Majidadin Dambatta, he led a delegation alongside the former aspirant to a meeting with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, during which Kura formally announced his decision to join the APC.
Majidadin Dambatta described the defection as a significant boost to the ruling party, noting that it would further strengthen the APC’s unity and political structure ahead of future elections.
He said the party remained committed to working collectively for the progress and development of Kano State and the country.
The APC stalwart welcomed Kura back into the party and expressed confidence that he would make meaningful contributions to its growth and the welfare of the people.
The defection is expected to add a new dimension to the political landscape in Kano State as parties continue to realign ahead of future electoral contests.
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