Headlines
How Tsakuwa Community employs, pays teachers in Govt schools
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Disturbed by the challenges faced by pupils and students, the residents of Tsakuwa town under Dawakinkudu local government area of Kano state have mobilised resources to complement government’s effort of addressing shortage of teachers in public schools.
KANO FOCUS reports that the community under the umbrella of Tsakuwa Mufarka has employed and deployed sixteen teachers to nine public schools in the town.
In an ideal situation, government is solely responsible for running public schools. While the federal government is taking care of the tertiary institutions, state and the local governments are accountable for effective running of primary, secondary and state owned institutions in their respective domains.
Governments at the three tiers are expected to provide structures, teachers and other staff as well as maintenance of all facilities in public schools to give the citizens education. They are also to pay salaries and other entitlements of teachers and other staff in such schools.
However, these vital functions are gradually been eroded at all levels due to inadequate resources coupled with increased population.
GGJSS Tsakuwa students in class
The community, KANO FOCUS observed that has a about nine schools, but they lack teaching and learning facilities to make them complete schools.
However, it was observed that children of Tsakuwa community are lagging behind educationally. This is because successive governments are not paying the needed attention to the schools in the area. The community has to take action to keep the schools alive after all attempts to get government intervention have failed.
Government Girls Junior Secondary School Tsakuwa, KANO FOCUS gathered has a population of about 1,300 students at present. The students are being handled by only three teachers, a principal and two classroom teachers. Thus, only three teachers are under the employment and pay roll of the government.
However, the community had through Tsakuwa Mufarka, employed the services of three more teachers to complement government employees.
Despite this effort, KANO FOCUS observed that eight other schools in the town are offering skeletal services courtesy of inadequate teachers, chairs and desks.
Members of Tsakuwa Mufarka education committee and leadership of PTA of Alhaji Danjummai Primary School
The chairman of education committee, Tsakuwa Mufarka Development Association Malam Abdullahi Wagadi also told our reporter that officials from the state and local authorities have been visiting the town and noting all the problems affecting it with promises to address them, yet nothing has been done to that effect.
This is in addition to the monthly reports to the authorities at the top of which is always the problem facing the schools, which includes, inadequate teachers, lack of furniture amongst others.
Wagadi said the students could not use the available toilets in some schools because of lack of water.
Tsakuwa Mufarka employs 16 teachers
The chairman of Tsakuwa Mufarka Alhaji Tasiu Alhassan, said that their schools are facing serious challenges and that efforts to make government come to their aid have failed.
The chairman said the schools are lacking of adequate teachers and other basic infrastructures.
He said: “The teachers are not enough and government has refused to deploy more teachers to our schools, so the community has to employ sixteen additional teachers and has been paying them for three years now.”
He pointed out that some years ago, the secretary of the local government education summoned leaders of Tsakuwa Mufarka for a meeting where they tabled the matter, yet government has not addressed their concern.
He said they will continue to encourage parents and guardians to enroll their children in school despite the challenges they are facing in the community.
Distribution of books at Tsakuwa Model Primary School
Some of the teachers who are under the community payroll told KANO FOCUS that their work has been marred by lots of challenges, such as overcrowding of pupils, lack of text books and other facilities to aid them in teaching.
One of them said most times the teachers have to provide the books to use in teaching from their meager salary of N10, 000.
“Because we don’t have enough teachers in the school, a class that is supposed to be handled by three teachers is being handled by one teacher,” she said.
They said that they accepted to do the work because of lack of employment bedeviling the country.
However, they are pleading with the government to confirm their employment through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) as well as provide the necessary infrastructures that will help them in giving their best to the pupils.
Kano declares state of emergency on education
Kano state government says it will soon declares state of emergency on education.
The state commissioner of education Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa revealed this at three day workshop for the Development of the annual Operational Plan for education held in Kaduna.
The training was supported by Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria’s Education (PLANE).
The commissioner said with this intended declaration, education shall henceforth take a lead, as first line charge item in government priorities.
With this declaration on state of emergency on education the state is expected to witness a positive transformation in education sector.
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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