Headlines
Nearly 60% of children suffer malnutrition in Kano – official
Nasiru Yusuf
About 58.9% of children are suffering from malnutrition in Kano state, a state nutrition officer Halima Yakasai said.
Kano Focus reports that Yakasai revealed this on Thursday at a one day high level advocacy dialogue on the nutrition situation in Kano state organised by Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) in collaboration with state ministry of planning and budget.
To address this, she said Kano state government has procured 2,128 cartons of ready to use therapeutic food (RUTF) worth fifty million Naira for onward distribution to malnourished children.
She said the RUTF will be distributed to three thousand children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition in the state.
Yakasai added that the state government has empower rural women at Sumaila and Bichi local government areas on goat rearing in an effort to address malnutrition.
In her remarks the wife of Kano state governor Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje said the state government has attached priority attention to addressing severe acute malnutrition among children.
Mrs Ganduje who was represented by the commissioner for higher education Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure said malnutrition poses a serious challenge to child wellbeing in the state.
Dr Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure
“I think it will always useful to remind ourselves of the magnitude of the problem our children are facing which we are trying to solve in Kano state. Malnutrition has continued to remain a key challenge at both individual and community level and impact negatively on the well being of the people.
“On this note, I will like to fashionably inform this forum that state government under the leadership of his Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano state Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR Khadimul Islam is strongly committed in reducing the problem of malnutrition in the state using a multi sectoral and multi disciplinary approaches including various intervention at the state local and community levels through improved implementation and funding of state nutrition intervention in the state and ensure timely releases of fund and appropriated annually in order to reduce the multiple burden of malnutrition in Kano state,” Mrs Ganduje said.
In his presentation the project manager Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) Okoronkwo Sunday appealed for improved funding for nutrition in all government ministries and agencies in line with costed state strategic plan of action for nutrition.
Mr Okoronkwo Sunday
Mr Sunday also appealed for on time release of allocated funds to reduce and eliminate malnutrition in Kano state.
The CS-SUNN project manager also advocated for scale up of Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) intervention being implemented in 13 local governments to the remaining 31 local government areas, as a child with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) has just about seven months to survive or die of malnutrition.
Hajiya Zainab Musa
Also speaking the Kano state coordinator of CS-SUNN Zainab Musa thanked Kano state government for it’s strategic intervention in addressing malnutrition through budgetary allocation and women empowerment to become self reliant.
Participants
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday received a delegation from the Association of Kano Business Community at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a thank-you visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
KANO FOCUS reports that the delegation expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support to traders and other victims affected by the recent fire incident that razed several sections of the popular Singer Market in Kano.
Speaking during the meeting, the Vice President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to collaborating with the Kano State Government and relevant agencies to prevent a recurrence of fire outbreaks in markets across the state.
He assured the delegation that President Tinubu has the interests of Kano people at heart, noting that the N5 billion approved as immediate relief for victims was based on the findings of a preliminary assessment of the damage caused by the inferno.
Shettima reiterated that the Federal Government would continue to support efforts aimed at restoring commercial activities and strengthening safety measures in markets to protect lives and property.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has inaugurated a 23-member committee to oversee the transparent and equitable distribution of financial assistance and relief materials to victims of the recent Singer Market fire disaster.
KANO FOCUS reports that the inauguration was carried out on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Faruq Ibrahim, who chairs the committee. The event was presided over by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude.
According to the Attorney-General, the committee comprises representatives from key government agencies, security services, the Kano Emirate Council, religious leaders, and affected traders.
He said the panel’s mandate includes assessing the extent of losses, verifying genuine victims, ensuring timely distribution of support, and recommending measures to prevent future fire incidents.
The intervention follows support approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as contributions from the APC Governors Forum. It also comes in addition to earlier assistance provided by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting victims of the disaster and restoring commercial activities at Singer Market.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has announced Saturday, March 1, 2026, as the commencement date for the Eid-el-Fitr break for all public and private primary and post-primary schools in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the announcement, contained in the approved 2025/2026 academic calendar, applies to both day and boarding schools across the state.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Enlightenment, Musbahu Aminu Yakasai, parents and guardians of pupils and students in boarding schools are expected to convey their wards home by the early hours of Friday, February 28, 2026.
The statement further explained that boarding school students are to resume on Sunday, March 22, 2026, while day students are to resume on Monday, March 23, 2026.
It added that the second term will continue from Sunday, March 22, 2026, and end on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
The government directed all public and private schools in the state to comply strictly with the directive, warning that non-compliance would be treated as a breach of government instructions.
The Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda, urged parents and guardians to ensure full compliance with the approved resumption dates.
He appreciated parents and residents of the state for their continued cooperation and support to the ministry, and wished pupils and students a successful completion of the Ramadan fast and hitch-free Sallah celebrations.
Kano business community thanks FG for N5bn Singer market relief
Kano Govt inaugurates 23-member committee to disburse Singer market fire relief
Kano Govt announces March 1 for schools’ Ramadan break
NCC board chair hosts licensed telecoms operators in Lagos
Stakeholders seek stronger nutrition financing at local government level
Lami Maccido, first person to appear on screens of NTA Kano, CTV 67, dies at 72
Governor Yusuf Appoints Acting DG for Pilgrims Board, Names Provost for Anti-Corruption Institute
Kano govt investigates reported disease outbreak in Garko community
K-SAFE appeals to Kano Executive Council to pass revised education bill
