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Kano steering committee on education review progress, outline new steps to improve
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Education Sector Joint Steering Committee has conducted a two-day meeting at Kaduna to review progress reports from Technical Working Groups (TWGs) regarding the implementation of basic education initiatives in Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that all stakeholders on education worked together and reviewed what was done so far in an effort to address the challenges retarding the progress of the state education sector.
Addressing the participants, the State Commissioner of Education Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa explained that following the declaration of state of emergency on education by governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the ministry has taken positive steps to ensure that the policy is fullyconductin implemented to achieve the intended goals.
According to Doguwa, part of this effort is conducting biannual meeting of the education sector joint steering committee, stressing that this year’s meeting was aimed to discuss the progress on the implementation of the 14-points education reform agenda and deliberate on the recommendations from the Kano Education Recovery Conference and Action plan.
“I want to also inform you that what we are expected to do during this crutial meeting, include dissemination of findings from the 2023 Annual Education Sector Performance Review, receiving brief on Haske Basic Education for Intergrated Qur’anic Schools Pilot in Kano and agree on the next steps,” Doguwa said.
The commissioner announced that the state ministry of education had mapped out next steps agenda to be implemented soon which include conduct of massive schools enrolment, distribution of instructional materials to schools across the 44 local government areas and reopening of the boarding schools closed down by the immediate past administration.
Doguwa added that preparation had been completed to provide upkeep allowance to schools to ensure their smooth operation for quality education, adding that…. ” very soon the administration of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf will distribute adequate furnitures to schools and schools uniforms to provide enabling learning environment.
He further urged the participants of the programme to stand on the commitment being made during the meeting as their next steps of action, assuring them for government’s support at all times.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the State Commissioner Ministry for Higher Education Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata maintained that as major stakeholder, his ministry agreed to upgrade and develop technical education system of all the state tertiary institutions to provide beffiting environment for skills acquisition programme.
“We came here with developed action plan framework on education sector and we have done a lots to ensure that the meeting becomes succsssful. As you can see, we have already taken the next steps in form of promotion of new policies including new ones and the implementation of the well established existing policies ” he said.
One of the activity carried out during the meetimg was the intensive review of education crisis response plan framework that comprised with access to quality education, almajiri and alternative education system, promoting girl-child education, teacher development, teaching learning materials and resources and curriculum development among others.
The Biannual State Education Sector Joint Steering Committee Meeting was attended by all the relevant stakeholders including representatives of Kano State House of Assembly, representatives of Kano Emirate Council, representatives of development partners, MDAs and Civil Societies.
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Gov Yusuf receives fellowship, award of excellence from US Management Institute
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has been awarded a prestigious Fellowship by the United States Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership.
According to a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Institute also presented Governor Yusuf with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his efforts in human capital development and resource management.
The recognition was conferred by representatives of the Institute’s Governing Council, led by Barr. (Dr.) Steven Longe, during an investiture ceremony at the Abuja Governor’s Lodge.
This event followed shortly after the governor received the National Award from the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) during the World Teachers’ Day celebration.
Dr. Longe explained that the decision to honor Governor Yusuf with the Institute’s highest Fellowship and an Award of Excellence came after extensive research into his effective management of both human and financial resources.
The research highlighted his dedication to promoting good governance in Kano, Nigeria’s most populous state.
“Your leadership has been marked by prudence and transparency,” said Dr. Longe.
“You embody the qualities of an accountable and dedicated leader.
We are proud to associate with politicians who are committed to selfless service to their people.”
In his response, Governor Yusuf expressed his gratitude for the Fellowship and thanked the Institute for recognizing his leadership qualities on an international platform.
“Despite the many challenges we have faced since the beginning of this administration, our commitment to serving the people of Kano remains unwavering.
We will continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people,” the governor assured.
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World Teachers’ Day 2024: NUT Honors Gov.Yusuf for Outstanding Performance in Education Reform
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has honored Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, with a prestigious award for his exceptional performance in reforming the state’s education sector.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa on Saturday.
The award was presented during the celebration of World Teachers’ Day 2024 at Eagle Square, Abuja, in a vibrant event organized in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.
The event brought together teachers from across the 36 states of Nigeria to honor the significant contributions made to the education sector.
Governor Yusuf was recognized with the NUT Golden Award for his transformative efforts in rescuing Kano’s education sector from years of decay and neglect.
In his remarks, NUT National Chairman, Comrade Titus Ambe, noted that only six governors were selected for this honor, based on their unwavering commitment to advancing education, particularly through the support of teachers’ welfare and continuous training.
Specifically, Governor Yusuf’s accomplishments were highlighted, including his administration’s allocation of 29.9% of Kano’s 2024 budget to education and his declaration of a state of emergency in the sector, which has significantly improved both infrastructure and access to quality education in the state.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, commended the governors for their dedication.
Speaking on behalf of the six awardees, which included the Governors of Borno, Oyo, Benue, Enugu, and Kebbi states, Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his commitment to further investing in education, emphasizing the importance of sustaining progress to ensure future generations thrive.
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LG polls: Kano APC urges court to stop INEC from releasing voter register
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The major opposition political party in Kano, the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Friday instituted a fresh suit against the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, before the Federal High Court sitting in Kano.
KANO FOCUS reports that the party is asking the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from releasing voter register for the conduct of the council poll.
The plaintiffs, APC and the party Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, instituted the suit through their counsel, Ismail Abdulaziz.
They also sought an interlocutory application to restrain the state electoral body from continuing with the process and conduct of the council election slated for 26th October, 2024.
Defendants joined in the suit include, the Kano State Attorney General, Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, KANSIEC Chairman, Sani Lawan and other members.
Abdulaziz said, “we are asking for the court to interpret some provisions of the constitution, KANSIEC guidelines, the law itself in seeking whether KANSIEC is a revenue generating agency and considering that the N9m and N4m requested to be paid by Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates by KANSIEC were exorbitant.
“We want the court to determine whether KANSIEC will be impartial looking at present members that constituted the commission.
“We are also seeking the court to order INEC not to release election materials such as voter register to KANSIEC until the commission abide by the provision of the constitution.
“We now sought for interlocutory injunction to restrain the continuation of the continuing with process and conduct of the election. The defendants did not receive our processes and the court adjourned till next Friday so that all the parties to file their responses,” Abdulaziz said.
Moving the application before the Presiding Judge, Justice Simon Amobeda, on Friday the court adjourned the matter till 11th October, 2024 and ordered the plaintiffs to serve the defendants.
Meanwhile, in a related matter, the Counsels to Kano State government, Rilwanu Umar SAN and Kano State House of Assembly, Bar. Bashir Yusuf said they have filed a preliminary objections before the Justice Amobeda challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear matters concerning KANSIEC.
The Counsels said only state high court and state assembly have the powers to entertain any matter that border on regulations of KANSIEC and not federal agency or so.
Kano state government application came in response to motion on notice moved by APC and one Aliyu Aminu Tiga on why the court should not stop the conduct of the election.
Recall one Aminu Aliyu Tiga and the APC had earlier filed an application seeking the court to stop the electoral body from conducting the elections in which Justice Amobeda in interim refused to grant and however noted that the defendants shall be put on notice to show cause why the prayers shall not be granted.
The Court presided by Justice Simon Amobeda however adjourned the matter till 11th October for hearing.