Headlines
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.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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