Headlines
Kano partners PLANE to revitalize education sector
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano state government has reiterated its commitment to work closely with Partnership For Leaning For All in Nigeria (PLANE) to revitalize the education sector in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the State Commissioner of Education Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving a team from the FCDO PLANE head office, Abuja on a courtesy visit in his office.
Doguwa explained that so far, Kano benefited a lot from the intervention projects of PLANE which according to him, yielded positive impacts to the present administration commitment in ensuring quality education in the state.
The Commissioner said it is obvious the present administration had inherited education sector in a stage of total dilapidation and decay of schools infrastructures and lack of instructional materials resulting to non conducive learning environment.
” We have produced a documentary programme portraying total neglect and decay of the education sector meaning that we have a lot to do in order to address all the challenges of the education sector ” said Doguwa.
He therefore maintained that the administration is fully determine to work with relevant stakeholders like PLANE to ensure that all the problems inherited from the immediate past administration on the education sector are critically addresseed.
The Commissioner explained that there are three basic components that the present administration focuses to improve the education sector which bordered around access, quality and infrastructures development in schools.
” Presently, the administration is more concern on the issue of access to education by the out of school children we have in the state and the quality of the education being given to students.
” So, as we really thank and appreciate your intervention programmes on education in Kano, we are still urging PLANE to fully engaged with present administration in providing access opportunity and quality education to our children ” he disclosed.
Earlier, the Deputy National Team Lead FCDO Sam Achimugu said the team was at the Commissioner’s office to intimate him on the intervention programmes executed in Kano by PLANE specifically on education sector.
He explained that under the project, over 8000 primary schools teachers were trained in Kano and the program was conducted with full collaboration of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)
Other intervention programmes according to the team leader, include coordination of books distribution and other learning materials at the classroom level across the 532 schools in Kano, supporting 35 school based management committee that sensitized stakeholders on book care and maintenance among others.
He said in an effort to restore the quality of education in the state, Kano Government in conjunction with PLANE had recently formed 19-member Committee to organize a Conference on education recovery, stressing that preparations had gone far for the commencement of the conference.
” This conference is aimed at facilitating technical deliberations on education access, including topical issues like out of school children, Almajiri school system, Qur’anic and Tsangaya education, teacher professional development, girls education and female teacher shortage especially in rural areas among others ” he disclosed.
While appreciating the immense support and cooperation given to the project by the administration, Achimugu explained that to achieve better result of the intervention programme, the ministry should try as much as possible to provide essential document, indicator and ensure sustainability of any development project embark upon with PLANE.
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
