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2024 Democracy Day:Gov Yusuf highlights his significant achievements over the past year
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expressed that Kano State has made significant achievements in various spheres of human endeavor over the past year.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Wednesday.
Addressing the people of Kano during a Democracy Day celebration at the Kano Government House, the governor remarked on the challenges posed by certain detractors who sought to contest the divine will and the support of the majority of Kano State residents who voted in favor of his leadership.
Governor Yusuf mentioned that his administration faced numerous legal obstacles, spending over eight months navigating various court proceedings to safeguard their mandate.
Nonetheless, he emphasized the considerable successes attained in different sectors throughout the year.
In the domain of Human Capital Development, the government prioritized skills acquisition, empowering the youth and women, and promoting high-level manpower advancement.
As part of their electoral commitment, the administration initiated monthly empowerment initiatives for women and youth, providing each beneficiary with a capital injection of N50,000 to invest in Small and Medium Enterprises.
Presently, 5,200 women from all 44 Local Governments have benefited from this program and will continue to do so regularly.
Youth Empowerment programs, including support for Traffic Traders/Hawkers, have also been launched, with each recipient receiving a capital injection of N50,000 to bolster their trade.
These empowerment schemes are ongoing on a monthly basis and are intended to encompass all deserving individuals in the State.
Furthermore, the governor approved the reactivation of the 21 Skills Acquisition Institutes, initiating training programs to young individuals with both soft and hard skills across various trades and enterprises, promoting an ethos of entrepreneurialism.
The government allocated significant resources to sponsor 1,001 first-class graduates to foreign universities, enabling them to pursue advanced degrees in diverse disciplines. These students are expected to complete their post-graduate education by the end of this year.
Additionally, the administration extended support to Kano State natives studying in tertiary institutions in various states, covering their registration fees as an act of compassion and support.
Recognizing the weight of accumulated pensioner debts, Governor Yusuf authorized the disbursement of 11 billion Naira, distributed in two install to over 5,000 pensioners in the initial phase. The second tranche, totaling 5 billion Naira, is set for imminent distribution, offering substantial relief and positively impacting numerous households in the State.
Moreover, as a fulfillment of a campaign pledge, the administration organized and sponsored a mass wedding for ,800 couples, providing each couple with essential provisions for their new life together.
In response to prevalent poverty exacerbated by inflation and escalating commodity prices, the government implemented measures to alleviate the hardships experienced by the populace.
A defining characteristic of the administration has been its compassionate approach, exemplified by the distribution of rice and assorted grains on five separate occasions to the most vulnerable members of society.
The State Government procured over 270 trailer loads of rice and 70 trailer loads of maize, distributing the supplies to all polling units in the 484 across the 44 Local Government Councils.
Approximately 820,600 households benefited from these palliatives.
Furthermore, the State Government sponsored the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration for approximately 6,000 students and covered the registration fees of over 121,687 Kano State students National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), incurring costs exceeding 2.9 billion Naira.
Aminu Abdullahi
The adolescent girls initiative for learning and empowerment AGILE has been described as a major catalyst to educational development.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Emir of Rano, Alhaji Muhammad Isa Umaru, made the indication while receiving AGILE team in his palace.
According to him, Kano has witnessed significant progress in girl child education facilitated by AGILE, hence the need for traditional institutions and relevant stakeholders to contribute their quota to achieve the desired objectives.
He noted that, Rano Emirate has been at the forefront of ensuring enrollment retention and completion of girls education through various initiatives.
The emir called on the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) to upgrade the girls school in his community.
The monarch said, the school, located beside the palace, requires expansion to accommodate a larger number of students.
The traditional ruler suggested that AGILE should visit the school to assess its condition, saying that, relocating the school to a bigger location had been earlier considered.
In his remarks the permanent secretary Kano state ministry of education Alhaji Bashir Baffa explained that, they were at the palace to seek for support and blessings form the royal father.
He said, AGILE has fostered an enabling environment for girls through promoting behavioral changes through communication campaigns engagement with traditional rulers and advocacy.
He maintained that, the team has embarked on advocacy visits to all relevant stakeholders at community and state levels on the importance of girls education.
Alhaji Baffa hinted that the state government had declared a state of emergency on education, hence the need for the traditional institution to contribute its quota to achieve the desired objectives.
He posited that, the team will visit the school to see possible ways of intervening for the development of education.
The permanent secretary also used the opportunity to condole Rano emirate over the killing of its indigenes in Uromi.
KANO FOCUS reports that, earlier the team has paid a similar visit to Karaye Emirate council as part of efforts to advocate for support from the traditional institution and relevant stakeholders.
Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim
The Kano State Ministry of Education’s Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, supported by the World Bank, has successfully renovated over 1,300 senior and junior secondary schools in the state in the last three years.
KANO FOCUS reports that the state commissioner for education, Alhaji Ali Haruna Makoda, disclosed this during a visit to the Karaye Emirate on Tuesday.
He added that the AGILE program has enrolled more than 30,000 girls through targeted outreach, grants, and its Second Chance education initiative.
Makoda further revealed that the state government has finalized plan to construct 130 new schools in rural communities, with over 35,000 girls already benefiting from financial assistance under the scheme.
He urged the Karaye Emirate to lend full support to the program and prioritize girls’ education.
In his remarks, the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Muhammad Maharaz, pledged the emirate’s commitment to advancing girls’ education in Kano State.
He commended the state government and the commissioner for their dedication to the programme’s success.
“It is our collective responsibility to support this initiative,” the Emir stated, calling for measures to ensure beneficiaries complete their education with strong academic outcomes.
The commissioner’s delegation consist of the Kano State AGILE Project Coordinator, Malam Mujitapha Aminu and other members of State Programme Implementation Unit (SPIU).
Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim
Bayero University Kano (BUK) on Monday celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Faculty of Education and inaugurated its Alumni Association at the Convocation Arena of the university’s new campus.
KANO FOCUS reports that the event was graced by government officials, education stakeholders, and alumni all gathered to commemorate the faculty’s contributions to Nigeria’s educational sector.
In her keynote address, the State Minister for Education, Mrs. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad announced the Federal Government’s Sector Renewal Initiative designed to transition Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.
She highlighted that the aim of the renewal initiative consists of – Reducing the number of out-of-school children; combating learning poverty; nhancing skills development and human capital for the labor market
The minister noted that the initiative prioritizes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Digital literacy and education quality assurance.
Mrs. Ahmad disclosed that the Federal Government had disbursed ₦35 billion to 261 beneficiaries under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), with BUK among the top beneficiaries.
“So far, the scheme has received 420 applications, and we are scaling up investments,” she stated.
She further confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved ₦120 billion to boost TVET programs, with plans to train 650 youths in technical, vocational, and digital skills over the next two years.
Emeritus Professor Sani Ahmad Sufi, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, praised the faculty for its high-quality graduates.
“Our pride lies not just in the number of graduates produced yearly, but in their impact across Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
He added that the faculty has produced Nigeria’s largest pool of graduate teachers many of whom hold key positions nationally and internationally.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje applauded the faculty for its significant role in advancing education in Nigeria.
The event concluded with awards presented to distinguished alumni and supporters of the faculty in recognition of their contributions to its growth.
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