Headlines
Cleric urges Muslims to channel Ramadan charity to healthcare, maternal care
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
A Nigerian-British cleric, Sheikh Mustapha Briggs, has urged Muslims to channel part of their Ramadan charity towards strengthening the healthcare system and reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria.
Cross section of participants
KANO FOCUS reports that Sheikh Briggs made the appeal during a one-day engagement with clerics and representatives of Islamic organisations organised by Every Pregnancy in collaboration with the African Centre of Excellence for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP), Bayero University, Kano.
Cross section of participants
The cleric said it was a religious priority for Muslims to mobilise resources to address maternal mortality, noting that such efforts align with Islamic principles of preserving life, lineage and intellect.
Some Participants at the event
He recalled the loss of his stepmother and her unborn child due to poor healthcare services in Nigeria, describing the incident as a personal tragedy that strengthened his resolve to support campaigns aimed at preventing avoidable maternal deaths.
Alhaji Ibrahim Galla
Also speaking, Ms Isra Chaker said Every Pregnancy is a coalition of over 50 faith-based organisations working together to raise awareness about the high rate of maternal deaths globally. She explained that Kano State was selected for the implementation of the project due to its high maternal and child mortality rates.
Ms Isra Chaker
According to her, the initiative would also focus on newborn care, immunisation and nutrition as part of efforts to improve overall maternal and child health outcomes in the state.
In her presentation, the Director of ACEPHAP, Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Hadiza Galadanchi, highlighted major causes of maternal deaths in Kano State based on findings from a social autopsy. She identified the high cost of medication and poor road infrastructure as key factors contributing to deaths during childbirth.
Prof. Hadiza Galadanchi
Prof. Galadanchi revealed that in some communities, pregnant women are forced to travel by canoe to reach healthcare facilities, while lack of bed spaces in hospitals poses a serious threat to safe delivery even when women manage to access medical care.
Alhaji Abdulkadir Salisu Kabara
She further observed that in some communities, families resort to Quranic inscriptions (rubutu) instead of taking pregnant women to hospitals, a practice she said contributes to preventable maternal deaths.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of the Kano State Zakkah and Hubsi Commission, Dr Ali Mustapha Quraysh, said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had approved the employment of medical doctors of Kano State origin to address manpower shortages in the health sector.
Cross section of Islamic clerics
He disclosed that he recently participated in the recruitment of 2,000 health workers aimed at strengthening the state’s healthcare system.
Group picture
The engagement, titled “The Critical Role of the Nigerian Muslim Community in Reducing Preventable Maternal Deaths,” was attended by Imams of Juma’at mosques, representatives of Islamic charity foundations (waqf), academics, and other stakeholders.
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.
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.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited has announced that its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) remains unchanged, reaffirming its commitment to stability in Nigeria’s domestic energy market.
In a statement issued by Esan Sunday, Head of Media Relations, Branding and Communication, the company said sustaining the current price reflects its efforts to cushion the broader economy against external shocks. It noted that by absorbing prevailing cost pressures, the refinery is helping to moderate inflationary risks, promote energy affordability, and ensure uninterrupted fuel supply amid ongoing global uncertainties.
The company reiterated its dedication to the steady supply of high-quality petroleum products to the Nigerian market, while aligning with national objectives of price stability and energy security.
It also urged the public to rely solely on official communications from the refinery for accurate and up-to-date information regarding its operations and pricing.
SFH appoints Dayyabu Yusuf to lead strategic health partnerships, RevoHealth HMO
Kwankwaso commends IGP over probe into Dadiyata’s disappearance
Cameroon telecom regulator visits NCC for benchmarking exercise
Dangote Refinery maintains ex-depot price of PMS
Tinubu congratulates Garo on appointment as Kano deputy governor
Kano SUBEB disowns fake teachers’ recruitment results
Sarkin Fulanin Jaidinawa Abubakar Gwadabe Buhari dies, funeral set for Wednesday
Kano Judicial Commission sanctions Shariah Court Judges, other staff over misconduct
Tinubu nominates Kano’s Rabiu Umar as new NMDPRA chief
