News
WHC Solar Trains 300 Solar Artisans, Traders in Kano
Ibrahim Khalil
WHC Solar, a renewable energy company, has trained 300 solar traders and artisans in Kano to improve their technical skills and promote the safe and efficient installation of solar power systems in Nigeria.
KANO FOCUS reports that the training, organised by the company on Saturday in Kano, focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge of solar technology, particularly the installation and configuration of inverters and lithium batteries.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of WHC Solar, Clint Chan, said the programme was designed to address technical gaps among solar installers and improve the quality of services provided to customers.

Clint Chan
Chan said the company initially expected about 250 participants but recorded an attendance of nearly 300, reflecting growing interest in solar energy technology.
“We noticed that some installers may not fully understand the technology, which can lead to mistakes. We organised this training to help them improve their skills and become more experienced technicians who can contribute positively to society,” he said.
He explained that participants received practical instruction on installing and configuring inverters and lithium batteries, including understanding how the components communicate with one another.

According to him, improving the technical capacity of solar practitioners would help reduce installation errors, enhance system performance and build customers’ confidence in renewable energy solutions.
Chan said the initiative aligned with the company’s mission to expand access to electricity through solar energy, particularly in Nigeria, where many households and businesses continue to face unreliable power supply.
“Nigeria is still facing electricity challenges, which is why our mission is to ensure that everyone has access to electricity, starting with Nigeria,” he said.
He disclosed that WHC Solar had operated in Nigeria for more than 10 years and remained committed to supporting the growth of the country’s renewable energy sector.

The chief executive added that the company maintained a service centre in Kano and supplied solar power systems for residential, commercial and industrial users.
He said participants would receive certificates at the end of the training to recognise their participation and the skills acquired.
Also speaking, a solar distributor, Sani Abdulkadir, popularly known as ABDK, commended the company for organising the programme and creating opportunities for young people to develop technical skills in the renewable energy sector.
Abdulkadir, who said he attended the training as a distributor, explained that customers experiencing problems with the company’s products could take them to its service centre for repairs, which he said could be completed within 24 hours.

He noted that solar energy was gaining wider acceptance among Nigerian households, creating growing opportunities for traders, installers and other professionals in the sector.
“Before, you could count the number of houses using solar energy, but the situation is changing as more people are embracing it,” he said.
The training comes amid increasing interest in solar power as households and businesses seek alternatives to unreliable electricity supply, with technical capacity development seen as important to ensuring the quality, safety and sustainability of solar installations.
News
Mother of former Kano NUJ chairman Abbas Ibrahim dies at 91
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Hajiya Binta Ibrahim, mother of former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State Council, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim, has died at the age of 91.
KANO FOCUS reports that she died on Friday, after a protracted illness.
Abbas Ibrahim was the Labour Party’s deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 Kano State governorship election.
Among the deceased’s surviving children are Salamatu Saminu, a retired director in the Kano State Government, Halima Ibrahim and Comrade Abbas Ibrahim.
The funeral prayer is scheduled to hold on Friday at Sahaba, Kundila, immediately after the Juma’at prayer.
May Almighty Allah forgive her shortcomings, grant her Aljannatul Firdaus and comfort the family she left behind.
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Headlines
Kano commissions Quick Response Squad to tackle drug abuse, thuggery
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has commissioned a Quick Response Squad of the Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, alongside operational equipment worth hundreds of millions of naira, as part of efforts to intensify the fight against drug abuse, thuggery and illicit trafficking.
KANO FOCUS reports that the commissioning took place on Thursday, marking another step in the state government’s efforts to tackle substance abuse through enforcement, rapid response, rehabilitation, skills acquisition and reintegration of affected persons into society.
Speaking at the ceremony, Gov Yusuf expressed satisfaction with what he described as progress recorded in the fight against drug abuse across the state.
“I am the happiest man in Kano today as we continue to push drug abuse down to the barest minimum,” he said.
The governor said the newly established squad would strengthen the operational capacity of the task force by enabling it to respond promptly to reports, drug-related incidents and emerging threats associated with illicit trafficking.
He explained that the provision of operational equipment was part of his administration’s commitment to equipping relevant agencies with the necessary tools to address the drug menace.
Gov Yusuf, however, stressed that the campaign should go beyond arrest and prosecution, noting that rehabilitated persons must be given opportunities to acquire skills and engage in legitimate economic activities.
He said the government would sustain skills acquisition and apprenticeship programmes to keep rehabilitated persons meaningfully engaged and reduce the risk of relapse into drug use and other criminal activities.
The governor commended the chairman and members of the task force for their dedication and commitment, saying the achievements recorded within a relatively short period demonstrated the importance of collaboration among government agencies and other stakeholders.
Accompanied by the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Jibril Ismaila Falgore, and other senior government officials, Gov Yusuf inspected the newly commissioned facility and the equipment procured for the task force.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Barr Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado, said the Quick Response Squad and the newly acquired equipment would enhance the agency’s capacity to respond effectively to drug-related challenges.
He reaffirmed the task force’s commitment to sustaining its operations against substance abuse and illicit trafficking, assuring the governor that it would not relent in carrying out its mandate.
Barr Rimin Gado expressed appreciation to the governor for providing political and operational support, which he said had strengthened the task force’s activities.
He noted that tackling drug abuse required collective responsibility, involving government institutions, security and regulatory agencies, traditional and religious leaders, parents, communities and educational institutions.
The chairman pledged that the task force would sustain its preventive, enforcement, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes while strengthening collaboration with relevant stakeholders to reduce substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the state.
Headlines
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, three others recommended for appointment as Kano high court judges
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.
