Headlines
Kano Partners UNESCO, Korea to enhance technical, vocational education
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Government would work closely with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Republic of Korea to enhance technical and vocational education across the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the State Commissioner of Education Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa gave the assurance on Friday during a stakeholders meeting with a team under UNESCO project popularly known as Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR III).
Doguwa said there is no better time to hold such stakeholders meeting on education than now as the present administration of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf embarks on creating policies and programmes aimed at boosting the education standard in the state.
” This is the best time when the Government of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf embarks on developing new agenda that are meant to revitalize the entire system of education in Kano which suffered neglect for some years. One of this agenda is to give technical and vocational training to our teaming youth to become self reliance.
” Kano State Government is therefore ready to work with this project under UNESCO and Republic of Korea to enhance technical and vocational training more especially among our students in primary and post primary schools ” he stated.
Doguwa however called on the project coordinator to look in to the possibility for making upward review of the share appropriated to Kano state under the project considering it’s population.
” I want to tell you that Kano State is a very big state that can stand for another country in terms of population. We have about 5.3 million students in primary and post primary schools and this explained the need for Kano to be given the largest shares under this project ” Doguwa demanded.
He further explained that in Kano there are more than 20 institutes meant to provide empowerment skills on different programmes, stressing that government would welcome any intervention from the donor partners to make those institutes more productive.
Earlier, the Head of office UNESCO Abuja Abdourahamane Diallo said the stakeholders meeting was organized to give the general overview of Better Education for Africa’s Rise project which is going to be implemented in Kano.
Mr. Diallo explained that the project is a joint initiative between UNESCO and Republic of Korea to strengthen the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems of selected countries in Africa.
” The third phase of the BEAR project will be implemented in four new beneficiary countries in West Africa including Cote d’ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra leone from 2023-2024 building on the positive and sustainable outcomes of the BEAR II project.
” Therefore Better Education for Africa’s Rise project (BEAR III) aims to give young people in West Africa better chance of accessing decent employment by promoting sustainable improvement in the technical and vocational education and training system of beneficiary countries ” he disclosed.
Presenting the project overview, the project regional coordinator of BEAR III Manish Joshi said the project is designed to at the end of the day achieve three basic outcomes that include making the project more relevant to the need of the beneficiary countries, enhancing the quality of technical and vocational education and training delivered to trainees and improving perception of the project among young people.
At the end of the stakeholders meeting, the team was led by the Commissioner of Education Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa for a visitation exercise to state farm land at Karfi in Kura Local Government Area and Dangote Utra-Model Skills Acquisition Center.
Headlines
AGILE Project: Kano awards ₦23.1bn contract for construction of 49 new secondary schools
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has awarded contracts worth over ₦23.1 billion for the construction of 49 new junior and senior secondary schools across the state’s 44 local government areas under the AGILE Project.
KANO FOCUS reports that the development, approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is aimed at strengthening educational infrastructure and improving access to quality education across the state.
The contract signing ceremony was held on Friday, where contractors received official approval documents to commence work on the projects in their respective locations.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Information, Ibrahim Adam.
According to the statement, the schools to be constructed under the AGILE Project comprise both Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Senior Secondary Schools (SSS), strategically distributed across the state to address infrastructural deficits in the education sector.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, reiterated the administration’s commitment to revitalising the education sector and creating a conducive learning environment for students.
He said the initiative would significantly reduce classroom congestion, expand access to education, and improve teaching and learning conditions in schools across the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the AGILE Project is part of broader efforts by the Kano State Government to enhance educational development, particularly in improving infrastructure and supporting increased school enrollment and retention.
Headlines
SFH appoints Dayyabu Yusuf to lead strategic health partnerships, RevoHealth HMO
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Society for Family Health has appointed Dayyabu Mahmud Yusuf as Group Director, Impact Partnership and Engagement, as well as Managing Director of RevoHealth HMO Ltd., in a move aimed at strengthening healthcare access and sustainable health systems across Nigeria and Africa.
KANO FOCUS reports that the appointment was announced on the organisation’s official Facebook page on Saturday.
According to SFH, the new leadership appointment signals the beginning of a fresh phase focused on improving impact, expanding access to healthcare services, and advancing sustainable health transformation initiatives across the continent.
The organisation stated that the appointment reflects its commitment to building integrated health systems and promoting innovative platforms in healthcare financing, workforce development, advisory services, and sustainable health interventions.
SFH expressed confidence that Yusuf’s leadership would further strengthen the organisation’s impact and deliver lasting value to communities across Nigeria and beyond.
Yusuf is a seasoned public health professional with more than 18 years of experience in the design and implementation of public health, social marketing, and health systems strengthening programmes in Nigeria.
He is widely recognised as a health systems expert, health economist, programme management specialist, and community engagement practitioner, with extensive experience in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH), HIV/AIDS, malaria, child survival, and nutrition interventions.
He has also built strong technical expertise across the family planning and maternal, newborn and child health continuum, while leading large and complex teams on multiple development programmes.
Yusuf possesses strong advocacy and stakeholder engagement skills, having worked closely with senior government officials, lawmakers, and influential traditional and religious leaders to drive institutional and behavioural changes that support effective programme implementation.
A seasoned trainer, Yusuf has trained various cadres of health professionals and is known for his practical expertise in participatory community engagement approaches.
He holds a degree in Microbiology and a Master’s degree in Health Economics from Bayero University Kano, as well as an MSc in Microbiology from University of Abuja.
Headlines
Kwankwaso commends IGP over probe into Dadiyata’s disappearance
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
A former Governor of Kano State Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has commended the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, for ordering a fresh investigation into the disappearance of activist and lecturer Abubakar Idris Dadiyata.
KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso made the remarks in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Saturday following recent testimony by a former aide to an ex-state governor, who allegedly claimed that police officers were responsible for Dadiyata’s disappearance in Kaduna.
Dadiyata, a lecturer and social media commentator, was abducted in 2019, and his whereabouts have remained unknown since then.
According to Kwankwaso, he and his associates have consistently advocated for a thorough investigation into the incident and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
He described the Inspector-General’s directive for a comprehensive investigation as a “decisive and long-overdue action,” expressing hope that the process would uncover the truth behind the disappearance.
The former governor also urged police authorities to place individuals named in the allegations under close surveillance to prevent interference with the investigation.
Kwankwaso further called on the government to ensure that Dadiyata, if found alive, and his family receive adequate compensation for the trauma and hardship they have endured over the years.
He commended members of the public for sustaining advocacy efforts on the case and also praised Abba Hikima Fagge for what he described as his important role in the latest developments surrounding the investigation.
Kwankwaso expressed optimism that the renewed probe would ultimately deliver truth and justice in the case.
