Headlines
Make KSCHMA enrollment prerequisite of company registration in Kano – NLC

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Kano state council Comrade Kabiru Inuwa has called on Kano state government to make it mandatory on private companies to enroll their employees before getting state registration.
KANO FOCUS reports that the NLC chairman made the call at a 3 day Consultative Workshop with Organised Private Sector (OPS) organised by Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency KSCHMA in
collaboration with FCDO Lafiya programme in Kaduna.

Comrade Kabiru Inuwa
Comrade Inuwa observed that in some states enrolment into healthcare contributory scheme is prerequisite of registering private companies.

He therefore advised KSCHMA to compel private health facilities to enroll their employees into contributory scheme.

Cross section of participants
Also speaking the Kano state chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Mubarak Baba said they would convey the meeting of their respective branches for further consultations.

Malam Abdulhamid Abubakar and Malam Sadiq Imam
He assured KSCHMA of their readiness to support its campaign on extending coverage to Organise Private Sector in the state.
In his submission the state chairman of Organise Private Sector (OPS) Comrade Hamza Adamu noted that most of the employees of private sector are yet to enroll into any healthcare scheme.

Some of the dignitaries at the event
He therefore advised KSCHMA to extend its coverage by registering employees of private sector.
On his part the state chairman of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Comrade Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo advised KSCHMA to reconstitute the monitoring team consist of its staff and labour unions to monitor the accredited health facilities under the scheme.

Cross section of participants
According to him this will checkmate their activities and improve service delivery.
Earlier, Dr Saidu Muhammad who wrote the first council memo on state contributory healthcare scheme acknowledged the role of labour unions in the establishment of KSCHMA.

Dr Saidu Muhammad
He therefore appealed to union leaders to support KSCHMA in bringing organise private sector into the scheme.
239,968 enrollees treated for malaria under KSCHMA scheme in 3 months
The Executive Secretary of Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency KSCHMA Dr Rahila Mukhtar said so far 239,968 enrollees had received malaria treatment under its scheme in the first quarter of 2024.

Dr Rahila Mukhtar
The Executive Secretary added that 27,887 others had received typhoid treatment at different health facilities under state contributory healthcare scheme during the period under review.
According to her the enrollees have utilised 3,160 normal deliveries, 103 Ceasarian Section (CS), 14,777 Antenatal Care (ANC) and 162 Obstetric Scan in the first quarter of 2024.

Cross section of participants
She recalled that the enrollees have utilised more than 900,00 different services under the scheme in 2023.
Commenting on the workshop, Dr Rahila Mukhtar said it was organized to acquaint the participants with the state contributory health scheme and highlight its benefits over other plans.
In his address the representatives of FCDO Lafiya Programme Malam Abdulhamid Abubakar expressed the commitment of FCDO Lafiya in supporting KSCHMA’s drive to enroll and provide health coverage to all the residents of Kano State as enshrined in KSCHMA law.

Malam Abdulhamid Abubakar
“Our dream at FCDO Lafiya Programme is to see all Kano residents have access to quality healthcare services through KSCHMA to reduce out of pocket expenditure on health. “And reduce the maternal and under five mortality deaths due to lack of access to healthcare services.”
On his part Malam Shuaibu Ahmad Indabawa said the enrollment of employees into KSCHMA scheme will reduce companies medical bill beside ensuring a healthy workforce.
Other benefits of the enrollment according to him include convenient budgeting and payment of medical expenses.

Headlines
Emir of Rano lauds AGILE for educational intervention

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.

Headlines
Kano AGILE renovates 1,300 schools, enrolls 30,000 girls in three years

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).

Headlines
BUK Faculty of Education celebrates 50 years anniversary, launches Alumni Association

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.
