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Danbatta, NCC boss, bags prestigious Zik Prize

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NCC EVC Profile Picture

Nasiru Yusuf

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Garba Danbatta, has emerged the winner of the 2019 Zik Prize, in the professional leadership category.

Kano Focus reports that a member of the Advisory Board of the prestigious award Pat Utomi announced the winners in a webinar on Thursday.

Mr Utomi said Danbatta and Kennedy Uzoka, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) are the winners in that category.

“Prof Umar Garba Danbatta is a square page in a square hole.

State legislators honor NCC boss

NCC emergency communications centers process 1,500 COVID-19 related calls – Danbatta

“An academic professor, Danbatta has, through the NCC, led the charge to drive Nigeria’s industrial revolution and knowledge-based economy leveraging telecommunications.

“Telecommunications’ contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria has grown by 70 per cent from 2015 to 2020, whilst broadband penetration has leaped from 8 percent to 42 percent, in the same period.”

“His leadership has enhanced transparency and innovation in the sector, such that recently, NCC was acknowledged by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as one of Africa’s foremost regulator,” Mr Utomi observed.

In a letter of nomination in July 2020, which was jointly signed by the Chairman of the Board, Jubril Aminu, and Utomi, the NCC boss was described as “an outstanding public servant, whose initiatives and reforms had contributed to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) playing a leading role in the socio-economic development of Nigeria.”

The Zik Prize was set up in 1994 in honor of the first President of Nigeria, late Nnamdi Azikiwe, with a view to encouraging and nurturing leadership in Africa and the diaspora.

Among the past winners are: former President of Ghana, J. J. Rawligs (1995); Late Nelson Mandela, President Yonweri Muzeveni of Uganda and former Chairman of NCC’s Governing Board, Ahmed Joda, among other illustrious leaders of the continent.

This year’s winners include the Senate President, Ahmed Lawal and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustafa, who won in political leadership and public service categories, respectively.

Others are Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, his counterpart from Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Oyo State Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, who won in good governance category.

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Governor Yusuf swears in six commissioners, three advisers, 19 permanent secretaries

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has sworn in six newly appointed commissioners, three advisers and 19 permanent secretaries as part of efforts to strengthen governance and improve service delivery in the state.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the ceremony followed the confirmation of the six commissioner nominees by the Kano State House of Assembly on October 26, 2026, after completing the legislative screening process.

 

The newly sworn-in commissioners are Air Commodore Salisu Yusha’u (retd.), assigned to the Ministry of Internal Security and Special Services; Ibrahim Namadi Dala, Investment; Prof. Sani Lawan Manunfashi, Higher Education; Muktar Ishaq Yakasai, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, Science and Technology; and Idris Garba Mustapha, Special Duties.

 

In a related development, the governor announced a minor cabinet reshuffle involving the redeployment of two commissioners to different ministries.

 

Under the new arrangement, Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, who previously served as Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, has been moved to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

 

Similarly, Hamza Kachaco has been redeployed to the Ministry of Environment.

 

The reshuffle leaves the Ministries of Information and Internal Affairs, as well as Solid Minerals and Mineral Resources, vacant pending further decisions by the state government.

 

According to a statement issued by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the appointments and redeployments are aimed at strengthening government institutions, improving administrative efficiency and repositioning key ministries for effective service delivery.

 

The governor urged the new appointees to demonstrate dedication, integrity and commitment to their responsibilities, stressing the need to prioritise public interest and contribute to the development of the state.

 

He also charged them to work collaboratively in advancing his administration’s development agenda and delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.

 

Gov Yusuf congratulated the appointees and wished them success in their respective assignments.

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Kano Cabinet Reshuffle: Waiya Moves from Information to Youths and Sports Ministry

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Ibrahim Khalil

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has redeployed the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, to the Ministry of Youths and Sports as part of a cabinet reshuffle involving eight ministries.

KANO FOCUS reports that under the new arrangement, Waiya moves from the Ministry of Information to the Ministry of Youths and Sports, while Hon. Hamza Safyanu Kachako has been transferred from the Ministry of Mineral Resources to the Ministry of Environment.

The reshuffle also assigns new commissioners to several ministries.

Hon. Yushau Soja has been assigned to the Ministry of Internal Security, while Hon. Idris Garba Mustapha will oversee the Ministry of Special Duties.

Similarly, Hon. Muntari Ishaq Yakasai has been assigned to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and Hon. Ibrahim Namadi Dala will head the Ministry of Commerce.

Other appointments include Hon. Ibrahim Tsanyawa as Commissioner for Science and Technology and Prof. Sani Lawal as Commissioner for Higher Education.

The reshuffle affects eight ministries, with the changes involving both new portfolio assignments and the redeployment of serving commissioners.

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Albasu APC ieaders accuse council chairman, state assembly member of anti-party activities

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They accuse council chairman, state lawmaker of supporting opposition senatorial candidate

 

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Albasu Local Government Area of Kano State have petitioned Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the party’s State Working Committee over alleged anti-party activities involving the council chairman, Garba Aliyu Hungu, and the member representing Albasu Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Musa Tahir Hungu.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the petitioners accused the two officials of maintaining political relationships with Kasim Ibrahim Bataiya, the New Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial candidate for Kano South, and allegedly working against the interests of the APC and its candidate, Senator Kawu Sumaila.

 

The petition, reportedly signed by more than 300 party officials and stakeholders across the wards and local government area, urged the governor and the party leadership to investigate the allegations and determine whether the conduct of the two officials violated the APC constitution.

 

According to the petitioners, the relationship between the officials and Bataiya predated their emergence as APC candidates, alleging that the NDC candidate had played a role in securing their previous political tickets.

 

They claimed that the relationship had continued despite their current political affiliations, raising concerns about their loyalty to the APC.

 

The petitioners further alleged that some elected councillors, political appointees and local government party officials had participated in activities organised by Bataiya, including attending his campaign rallies and mobilising support for his senatorial ambition.

 

One of the allegations was that the local government chairman provided the council’s town hall for political meetings and the launch of Bataiya’s senatorial campaign.

 

The stakeholders also accused the chairman and the lawmaker of frustrating efforts by party elders to investigate the alleged involvement of some APC councillors and executive committee members in the opposition candidate’s campaign activities.

 

They said a fact-finding committee was constituted under the leadership of Dr Yunusa Adamu Dangwani to examine the allegations but claimed that the two officials prevented it from carrying out its assignment.

 

The petitioners also alleged that the local government leadership failed to organise meetings with members of the APC legacy group despite what they described as directives from the governor and the party leadership.

 

They said one meeting was eventually held through the intervention of the member representing Albasu, Gaya and Ajingi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, but subsequent attempts to convene further meetings allegedly failed due to the chairman’s lack of commitment.

 

On the distribution of government empowerment programmes, the petitioners alleged that benefits intended for APC members and supporters were often diverted to individuals considered loyal to the NDC senatorial candidate.

 

They expressed concern that genuine APC members in the area were being marginalised and called for greater accountability in the distribution of government interventions.

 

The petition also cited the mobilisation of party members for the presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna, alleging that while other local governments provided at least 30 buses for the exercise, Albasu provided only 17.

 

Another issue raised was the continued participation of the serving Amirul Hajj in NDC activities. The petitioners alleged that the individual had retired from public service about two years ago but had yet to be replaced by the local government leadership.

 

They argued that the alleged activities could undermine party discipline, unity and the APC’s electoral prospects in Albasu and the wider Kano South Senatorial District.

 

The stakeholders consequently urged Governor Yusuf, whom they described as the party leader in Kano State, and the State Working Committee to examine the allegations under Article 21 of the APC constitution and determine whether the conduct of the two officials amounts to punishable anti-party activities.

 

However, they called for a fair and impartial process, urging the party leadership to invite the accused officials to respond to the allegations before taking any disciplinary action.

 

The petitioners maintained that their action was intended to protect the party’s interests, promote accountability and strengthen its unity at the grassroots, rather than malign any individual or prejudge the outcome of an investigation.

 

The petition was signed by Hon. Adamu Abdu Fanda, Caucus Chairman; Hon. Wada Ibrahim Daho, Caucus Secretary; former Kano State House of Assembly member, Hon. Sunusi Usman Bataiya; Isyaka Danyaya, Albasu APC Deputy Chairman; and other local government and ward officials.

 

Efforts to contact Garba Aliyu Hungu and Musa Tahir Hungu for their reactions to the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

 

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