Headlines
AGILE Games 2025: Kano wins gold medals in Basketball, digital literacy
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State’s basketball team has won gold and bronze medals in boys and girls categories at 2025 AGILE Games held in Abuja.
KANO FOCUS reports that the men’s basketball team performed better as they finished tops to win gold ahead of Plateau and Ekiti states.
Equally Fatima Nafiuddeen Marafa and Aisha Ismail Zubairu took home gold honours for their work in digital literacy and content creation.
Among the standout stories was that of the Kano State volleyball team. Though their opening match ended in defeat, the team rallied, finishing second in their group.
In the First Round, team Kano (volleyball boys) defeated team Katsina 25:19 and defeated them again in the second round 25:10. Kano 25 vs Katsina 19 to finish second overall to win silver.
in a vibrant celebration of young talent and achievement, the AGILE Games Awards on Tuesday May 27 honoured outstanding students from across Nigeria at the State House in Abuja.
The event, held as part of the Children’s Day festivities, recognised excellence in both sports and the arts.
Addressing children, dignitaries, and education leaders at the award ceremony at the State House, The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu described Nigerian children as “the heartbeat of the nation.”
She urged the children: “Keep learning, keep creating and know that your potential to make a real difference in Nigeria is limitless.”
Congratulating all Nigerian children, she highlighted the importance of the World Bank-funded AGILE project, which aims to eradicate out-of-school children and keep girls in school. “Every child represented here today has demonstrated what is possible when opportunity meets support,” she said. “You all have shown us that the good seeds planted are already bearing fruit.”
Minister for Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a milestone, stating: “It is our view in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration that education is not just a human right. It is a national security imperative. This is why every textbook is a child in the foundation of peace and prosperity. Every school lunch is an act of social justice. And every trained teacher is a guardian of education.”
He described AGILE as “the most impactful initiative to improve their education in the history of our country.”
World Bank Country Director, Mr Taimur Samad, noted that AGILE is the organisation’s second-largest project in Nigeria. “With two-thirds of girls who start schooling dropping out before they finish in Nigeria, AGILE is working on changing this narrative. We hope to support 50 million students.”
The commissioner of Education Dr Gwani Ali Haruna Makoda commend AGILE contingent for being good ambassadors of Kano state at the national competition.
According to him Kano state government attached priority attention to girls education in the state, hence the introduction of different programmes and policies to breach gender disparity in education sector.
The Kano state AGILE Project Coordinator Malam Mujittapha Aminu described the Kano’s feat in content creation as a manifestation of good result of AGILE digital literacy in intervention in schools.
“We’re proud to be part of this. This platform gives our students a chance to shine. It’s more than just games—it’s a movement.
“We have seven different student groups here. It’s about connection—building friendships and networks that might shape future collaborations,” Mr Aminu said.
The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project is a flagship programme of the federal government of Nigeria supported by the World Bank.
Launched in 2022, AGILE Project was initially implemented in seven states, targeting regions with some of the highest rate of cut-of-school girls in the country.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday received a delegation from the Association of Kano Business Community at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a thank-you visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
KANO FOCUS reports that the delegation expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support to traders and other victims affected by the recent fire incident that razed several sections of the popular Singer Market in Kano.
Speaking during the meeting, the Vice President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to collaborating with the Kano State Government and relevant agencies to prevent a recurrence of fire outbreaks in markets across the state.
He assured the delegation that President Tinubu has the interests of Kano people at heart, noting that the N5 billion approved as immediate relief for victims was based on the findings of a preliminary assessment of the damage caused by the inferno.
Shettima reiterated that the Federal Government would continue to support efforts aimed at restoring commercial activities and strengthening safety measures in markets to protect lives and property.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has inaugurated a 23-member committee to oversee the transparent and equitable distribution of financial assistance and relief materials to victims of the recent Singer Market fire disaster.
KANO FOCUS reports that the inauguration was carried out on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Faruq Ibrahim, who chairs the committee. The event was presided over by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude.
According to the Attorney-General, the committee comprises representatives from key government agencies, security services, the Kano Emirate Council, religious leaders, and affected traders.
He said the panel’s mandate includes assessing the extent of losses, verifying genuine victims, ensuring timely distribution of support, and recommending measures to prevent future fire incidents.
The intervention follows support approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as contributions from the APC Governors Forum. It also comes in addition to earlier assistance provided by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting victims of the disaster and restoring commercial activities at Singer Market.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has announced Saturday, March 1, 2026, as the commencement date for the Eid-el-Fitr break for all public and private primary and post-primary schools in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the announcement, contained in the approved 2025/2026 academic calendar, applies to both day and boarding schools across the state.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Enlightenment, Musbahu Aminu Yakasai, parents and guardians of pupils and students in boarding schools are expected to convey their wards home by the early hours of Friday, February 28, 2026.
The statement further explained that boarding school students are to resume on Sunday, March 22, 2026, while day students are to resume on Monday, March 23, 2026.
It added that the second term will continue from Sunday, March 22, 2026, and end on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
The government directed all public and private schools in the state to comply strictly with the directive, warning that non-compliance would be treated as a breach of government instructions.
The Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda, urged parents and guardians to ensure full compliance with the approved resumption dates.
He appreciated parents and residents of the state for their continued cooperation and support to the ministry, and wished pupils and students a successful completion of the Ramadan fast and hitch-free Sallah celebrations.
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