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Sardauna college holds maiden convocation, graduates 78 health professionals in Kano
Ibrahim Khalil
The Sardauna College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kano, on Saturday held its maiden convocation ceremony, graduating 78 students, with women accounting for about 80 per cent of the graduating class, a development stakeholders described as a significant milestone for healthcare delivery in northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, said the high number of female graduates would help address cultural concerns in the region, where many families are still uncomfortable with their wives, daughters and mothers being attended to by male medical personnel.
However, he noted that the northern region remains far behind in closing the gap in the number of female health practitioners, stressing the need for sustained investment in girls’ education and training in the health sector.
Alhaji Dalhatu also raised concern over the wider education crisis in the North, where he said an estimated 15 million children are currently out of school. He warned that failure to urgently tackle the problem could result in a generation that is largely unemployable, with serious consequences for regional and national development.
Also speaking, a renowned community leader and former public official, Dr. Goni Faruk Umar, has charged graduates of the Sardauna College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kano, to see their qualification not as a gateway to comfort but as a call to service and responsibility.
Dr. Umar who served as the Special Guest at the convocation ceremony described the institution as one established by vision and sustained by purpose, with a clear mandate to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery in Kano State, Nigeria and beyond.
According to him, nations do not rise by chance but on the shoulders of prepared and committed citizens, noting that the College was presenting to society a new generation of trained Community Health Extension Workers, Medical Laboratory Technologists and Public Health professionals equipped not only with certificates but with the capacity to save lives.
Addressing the graduands, Dr. Umar said they were entering a complex world challenged by disease, misinformation, poverty and fragile health systems, stressing that their knowledge, skills and compassion were now more critical than ever.
“Healthcare is not only about science; it is about humanity. It is not only about diagnosis; it is about dignity. It is not only about treatment; it is about trust,” he said.
He urged the graduates to allow empathy to guide their expertise and ethics to shape their ambition, reminding them that every patient represents a family, a future and a source of hope.
Dr. Umar commended the Provost, Academic Board, management and staff of the College for their commitment to excellence, noting that beyond teaching courses, they had contributed to character building, confidence and purpose, thereby strengthening the health security of the state and the nation.
He also acknowledged the sacrifices of parents and guardians, describing the convocation as a moment when years of prayers, support and perseverance had yielded visible results.
The guest speaker called on leaders and stakeholders to continue investing in health and educational institutions, stressing that a healthy nation is a productive nation and that a skilled health workforce remains the first line of defence for any society.
He further urged the graduates to leave the institution with values of service, professionalism and leadership, encouraging them to be problem-solvers, innovators, ethical and compassionate ambassadors of the College.
Dr. Umar expressed gratitude to the Governing Council and management of the College for naming one of its blocks after him, describing the honour as a reaffirmation of collective commitment to strengthening health education and human capacity development.
He dedicated the gesture to the ideals of service, integrity and impact, and pledged his continued support for the growth and excellence of the institution.
In her address, the Provost of the College, Hajiya Naja’atu Abdullahi, congratulated the graduating students and urged them to uphold integrity, empathy and a commitment to lifelong learning in their professional careers.
She highlighted the institution’s progress in expanding academic programmes, improving teaching and learning facilities, and strengthening clinical and industrial training partnerships to enhance the quality of its graduates.
The Provost also described the commissioning of the Dr. Goni Umar Faruk Administrative Building as a symbol of the college’s vision and commitment to sustainable development in healthcare education.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, said the state is facing enormous health challenges as its population continues to grow rapidly.
He projected that Kano State could record between 600,000 and 700,000 births in 2026 alone, while hospitals are currently grappling with a shortage of about 4,000 professional health workers.
Dr. Nagoda urged training institutions to place greater emphasis on practical and community-based training to ensure graduates are well prepared for service delivery. He further disclosed that plans were underway to absorb new graduates and deploy them to underserved areas, including Doguwa, Rogo and Sumaila Local Government Areas.
The maiden convocation was described by participants as a landmark achievement for the institution and a boost to efforts aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery in Kano State and the wider northern region.
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.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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