Headlines
Kano ADP guber candidate unveils blueprint, promises inclusive governance
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, (ADP) in Kano State and a member of the House of Representatives for Municipal Federal Constituency, Honourable Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada has unveiled his blueprint for Kano which will serve as a guide for developing the city.
KANO FOCUS reports that in a colorful ceremony held in Kano, the most prominent opposition candidate was joined by various sections of society, including students, labour unions, market women associations, non-governmental organizations, and other dignitaries from all walks of life.
While unveiling the over 70-page blueprint, the Sharada said the blueprint, which comprises Vision 2040 for Kano, will ensure transparency and accountability in governance, maintain law and order, and promote people-oriented policies.
The Honourable Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada noted that the blueprint was produced after thorough research by academics, technocrats, and members of a Kano think tank, Fitilar Jamaar Kano, led by Khalifa Dankadai.
In order to ensure dedication and commitment to the development of Kano, Honourable Sharada said he presided over the preparation and production of the blueprint from beginning to end, which is a prelude to ensuring robust governance under the Action Democratic Party.
He said the blueprint also contained a special emphasis on women, children, and youth who are in serious need of development in our society.
The ADP governorship candidate also seized the opportunity to showcase the digital empowerment skills of 50,000 youth across the 44 local governments of Kano.
Sharada was joined by the party’s national chairman, Engineer Yabagi Sani, Kano Central Senatorial candidate, Barrister Aisha Dankani, gubernatorial running mate Alhaji Ahmad Rabiu Bako, and Sharada party stalwarts.
In order to address the deteriorating state of education in Kano, the ADC gubernatorial candidate, said he will declare a state of emergency in the education sector the moment he is elected Governor of the state.
Sharada made the statement while participating in an interactive session for Kano State 2023 gubernatorial candidates on education, health, security, infrastructure, governance, commerce, industry, agriculture, women, children, and youth development convened by Dr.
Aminu Magashi in collaboration with NGO’s and civil society organizations.
Sharada said his government intends to take statistics on all public primary and secondary schools and assess the teaching and learning environment. He said that for education to be saved from collapse, reviewing education policy by his government is a must.
Speaking on the nagging problems of insecurities, Sharada, said in order to curb the growing insecurity affecting, he will create an identification number for every Kano resident.
The candidate said he has the best blueprint so far among other candidates in the state, added that, for insecurity to be a thing of the past, his government will synergize with critical stakeholders to identify and track every Kano resident.
According to him, this can be accomplished by collaborating with traditional rulers at the local level, which include ward heads, village heads, and district heads.
Sharada pointed out that in every discipline and civil service there are people who perform their duties with passion, but they are not lucky to be placed where they suit most. He cited an example of a civil servant who was passionate about teaching and could do better at teaching but was dumped at the office of the Head of Service or Ministry of Agriculture.
“The moment we identify them, we will swap them with civil servants who are passionate about going only through the files and who are always enjoying office work,” said Sha’aban Sharada.
The candidate said he has the best plan for education, including improving the state of the teaching and learning materials in Kano’s higher institutions.
The candidate also pledged to introduce vocational training in primary and secondary schools for students to learn various trades of their choice for self-reliance.
In a dramatic political twist that may redefine Kano’s traditional power matrix, former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has thrown his weight behind Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, as the monarch turbaned Ganduje’s nephew, Alhaji Jamilu Sani Umar, as the new Village Head of Ganduje.
This development signals a major shift in political allegiance, coming from a family that once stood at the heart of Emir Sanusi’s 2020 dethronement.
The former village head, Alhaji Sani Ganduje — who was removed from office — had openly challenged the Kano Emirate over the legitimacy of his removal, deepening the rift between the Gandujes and Sanusi’s loyalists.
However, following the recent reinstatement of Emir Sanusi II by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, political equations in Kano have shifted rapidly.
In what many see as a move to realign with the prevailing tide, Dr. Ganduje reportedly convened a strategic meeting with his extended family and directed full support for the new appointment.
Rather than sending a delegate, the entire Ganduje family physically accompanied Jamilu to the Emir’s palace, a powerful public gesture of submission and allegiance to Sanusi’s throne.
Political analysts interpret this as Ganduje’s calculated pivot — recognizing Emir Sanusi’s regained influence and perhaps seeking to reposition himself within Kano’s changing political terrain.
The move also draws a clear contrast with the dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, who enjoyed close ties with Ganduje during his administration but is now increasingly sidelined.
By endorsing the turbaning and realigning his family under Sanusi’s leadership, Ganduje appears to be reading the political handwriting on the wall — that Emir Sanusi’s return is not just ceremonial, but a restoration of deep-rooted traditional authority with growing political resonance.
As Kano continues to balance tradition and politics, the Ganduje family’s public allegiance to Emir Sanusi may be the clearest indication yet that the old guard is adapting to a new power order.
Kano legislator Masu dumps NNPP for APC
A member of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and a member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Sumaila Constituency, Hon. Zubairu Hamza Masu, has defected from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Masu addressed his resignation letter to the Speaker, Ismail Falgore, and it was read during Monday’s plenary session.
However, Masu cited internal crises bedevilling the NNPP, including factional disputes and ongoing litigations, as his reasons for leaving the party.
He specifically emphasised the multiple claims of leadership within the party at both state and national levels, naming Dr Suleiman Hashim Dungurawa and Senator Mas’ud El-Jibrin Doguwa as those claiming control at the state level, while Dr Ahmed Ajuji and Dr Agbo Major were also asserting authority at the national level.
Masu’s resignation takes effect from 12 May 2025, and he pledged his full allegiance to the APC leadership at all levels.
Headlines
Dangote donates N15billion to Kano varsity, offers Automatic jobs to best graduating students
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Group President of the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has announced the donation of a whooping N15billion to the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil (ADUSTECH), Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that. Alhaji Dangote, who is also the Chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) was reappointed the Chancellor of the University.
In his speech at the 5th convocation ceremony, he said the University must be repositioned to lead the race of producing cutting edge research and highly skilled manpower that meets the requirements of market demands, industries and real problem solvers in the Nigerian society.
He said: “It is in this vein that I wish to use this opportunity to announce the launch of the 5-year Development plan which I envision for this institution.
“Over the next 5 years, we will commit the sum of N15 billion to the following projects: the design and construction of additional student hostels; the design and construction of a world class Engineering Lab; the design and construction of a world class multipurpose computer lab -open to all students of the institution which will also be equipped with 24-hour internet access to support academic research and the installation of a mini-solar plant to support access to power on campus.”
He added that: “We also undertake to design and construct a befitting Senate building that will house the administration of this institution. Finally, we will also reserve post-NYSC employment slots for the best performing graduates in Engineering and other related courses that form part of our areas of interest at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Plant and Dangote Cement Plants.”
Alhaji Dangote said the funding for such an institution places a significant burden on the government, which is why, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, it was able to offset the University’s electricity bill to ease the strain on their finances.
“Additionally, to support the infrastructural drive of the University, we built two blocks of Male and Female Hostels with 500 bed spaces each.
“We also ensured the availability of electricity in a specialized University like ours for continuous teaching, learning and research, via the connection of the University to a 33KVA line, and provided a 2.5 MVA transformer and six (6) step-down transformers. This, I believe, has gone a long way in solving the energy needs of the University.”
Dangote therefore congratulated the vision of those who dreamt of the institution 25 years ago.
“An institution that began with a student population of 88, today has a population of more than 21,877 students and this combined convocation has a total of about 18,000 graduates. This is indeed a milestone,” he added.
In his address, Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf of Kano State commended Alhaji Dangote for contributing financially and morally towards the development of the University, adding that, “all of us will continue to remember you as a visionary and African illustrious industrialist.”
The University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Musa Tukur Yakasa said 18,000 students were being celebrated during the convocation ceremony, having graduated from the university in the last ten years to date.
Business mogul Chief Arthur Eze, founder of Max Air and billionaire Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, Senior Advocate Ahmad Adeniyi Raji, and oil magnate and founder of Amasco Oil Al-Mustapha Ado bagged honorary doctorate degrees.
The VC said the University has recorded significant strides in its academic journey to greater heights, including program accreditation and a mathematical digital model designed by a university product, Mahmoud Mubarak, for measuring deforestation density.
Power Shift in Kano: Ganduje Family Bows to Emir Sanusi as Nephew Gets Turbaned
Kano legislator, Masu dumps NNPP for APC
Dangote donates N15billion to Kano varsity, offers Automatic jobs to best graduating students
Mangal sponsors Hernia, Hydrocele surgeries for 12,300 vulnerable patients
