Month: November 2021

By Aisar Fagge and Uzair Adam Imam

The fight against corruption should not be left in the hands of the government and their agencies alone because of their apparent weaknesses. A lot of corrupt practices are taking place undetected by public anti-corruption agencies.

Prof. Ismail M. Zango, the Director of Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Bayero University, Kano (Mambayya House), made the above statement while speaking to The Daily Reality at a “One-Day Review Workshop of Civil Society Anti-Corruption Networks in the North-West Zone” organized by the centre.

Speaking about the time the centre started organizing workshops on the fight against corruption, Prof. Zango said:

“In 2018, the centre received a grant from MacArthur Foundation to engage faith-based organizations to actively participate in the crusade against corruption. And since then, we have worked with a number of CSOs and NGOs from different parts of Nigeria. So that was the first phase.”

Commenting about the achievement recorded by the campaign so far, the director said:

“The major success was that we were able to work with religious organizations. We invite Muslim and Christian clerics to enlighten them about the role they can play in fighting corruption using their pulpits through their sermons. We have also established anti-corruption clubs in secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions.”

“Government alone cannot fight corruption. But if you have civil society; if you have faith organizations; if you have community-based organizations all of them working together, the only thing that remains is to inculcate in them the culture of transparency and accountability,” he added.

There was a round-table discussion and Q & A session where leaders of selected CSOs from the North-West zone were given 10 minutes to report their activities and some of the challenges they faced.

Some of the “citizens” [members of CSO] blame donors for forcing them to do their bidding while others disagreed, stating that the problem was from the CSOs for selfishness, lack of transparency, accountability and being unethical in some deals.

Zahra’u Ahmad from Kebbi objected, pointing out that “Donors are not the problem, CSOs are. So if a donor comes to you with a project that goes contrary to your religious and traditional norms and values, just say no to his money. Another problem is we see these organizations like ours, which is wrong. These organizations belong to the community.”

While giving the vote of thanks, the Deputy Director, Research and Documentation, Dr Samaila Suleiman Yandaki, tasked the CSOs to be innovative in their fight against corruption by not solely relying on budget monitoring as indicated in their reports.

Some leaders of the CSOs presented papers that attracted questions, observations and commendations.

By Muhammad Sabiu

A famous Kannywood producer and former actress, Mansurah Isah, took to her social media accounts to lament how some southern Nigerian cinemas rejected the Hausa films.

She further complained about the government’s reluctance to support the films produced by the Kano-based Hausa film industry, Kannywood, and the inability to make the films as popular as those produced in other film industries in Nigeria.

Speaking in a 56-second video, she strongly questioned why Hausa movies are not popular all over Nigeria, except in just a section of the country, which, according to her, should not be like this.

“What did we Hausa producers do in Nigeria that our Hausa movies cannot be shown in cinemas all over Nigeria? But Yoruba movies will be all over; Igbo movies all over. Nigerian movies, too, are all over. So why is that we Hausa producers all left behind,” she questioned.

Though she didn’t mention anybody’s or agency’s name, Mansurah further solicited assistance, which she said should be by patronising films produced by the Kannywood film industry.

“Let us be assisted. You should make regulations. Display your language. Display your culture. You should love us. Make our films to be watched all over Nigeria. An English movie would be brought and shown in Kano, but a Hausa film wouldn’t be taken to Lagos and be displayed there. What is the reason?

Tacitly addressing people in power, she said, “We are the ones who support you. We neither insult nor defame you but we are still not developed. So what do you want us to do?

“I beg you in the name of God to help us and come up with regulations that will make Hausa films to be consumed everywhere in Nigeria.”

Kannywood is embattled with many tough challenges relating to cultural and religious issues, clichéd film content, monopoly of megastars, internal crises, among other problems critics and experts point out.

Masurah produced Fanan, a film whose songs have been trending on social media for several months. It recently showed in cinemas in Kano.

Dropcap the popularization of the “ideal measure” has led to advice such as “Increase font size for large screens and reduce font size for small screens.” While a good measure does improve the reading experience, it’s only one rule for good typography. Another rule is to maintain a comfortable font size.

Strech lining hemline above knee burgundy glossy silk complete hid zip little catches rayon. Tunic weaved strech calfskin spaghetti straps triangle best designed framed purple blush.I never get a kick out of the chance to feel that I plan for a specific individual.

Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.

On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country.

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.

But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.

A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.

Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.

His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.

It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.

By Aisar Fagge and Ahmad Hassan

Many students who go to university do not have the awareness and motivation to understand the need to have a personal vision and proper training on managing their time effectively.

Malam Abdullahi Abubakar Lamido of the Department of Economics, Bayero University, Kano, made this observation while presenting his papers in a lecture series organized by Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila (AUSU). Speaking about the first paper titled “My Mission in Life,” Lamido said:

“Well, essentially, the essence is to help the students with the necessary tools with which they can plan and organize their life, from developing their personal life vision; what they want to achieve in their own life, and what they want to achieve in the university.

“When we say vision, we mean how to help them develop a multi-dimensional vision that covers all the essential aspects of their life – spiritual, religious, social, economic, financial, political, family and educational life,” he added.

Lamido’s second paper was about how students manage their time where he said:

“One of the greatest assets that one needs to move towards greatness is to master the art of time management. I gave them some tools that can help them pragmatically in organizing their time. We use the “Big rock concept” and Brain Tracy’s “Eat that frog and so on.”

When commending the management style of the Vice-Chancellor of Al-Istiqama, Lamido commented thus:

“When I heard about the appointment of Prof. Salisu Shehu as the VC of Al-Istiqama, I concluded these people are serious. Because whoever knows Prof. Salisu Shehu knows him as a man of seriousness, a man of vision, a man of commitment, a man of dedication, a man of mission, a man of good character, a man of scholarship and an accomplished administrator.”

Two students attending the event explained the impact the lectures had on them.

Ibrahim Bashir, a student of Medical Laboratory Science, said, “My mission as a student of Al-Istiqama is to become a medical laboratory scientist and memorize Holy Qur’an.”

Fatima Muhammad from the Department of Nursing said, “Today’s activities are very motivating and educative as well. I have learned the difference between the vision and mission in life and how to use time accordingly.

“As a student of Al-Istiqama University, my vision is to become a professional nurse that is going make a difference out there – someone who is going to help the society and also the people from my state, women especially.

“People are complaining in the hospital that the nurses lack good manners, nurses harassment and others. I know showing sympathy to people in need of medical services is good.”

Other scholars who presented various papers related to their fields include Eng. Bashir Adamu Aliyu, Barrister Ahmad Yarima Misau, Dr Abubakar S. Usman, Dr Halima Rabiu Abdullahi and Dr Muhammad S. Usman from their respective institutions.

Many academics, religious and traditional leaders, as well as members of the Muslims Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), graced the occasion.

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Bauchi has disclosed that five persons have been confirmed dead in a deadly auto crash on Wednesday along Bauchi-Jos road.

Commander of the road safety corps in Bauchi, Mr Yusuf Abdullahi, told journalists Thursday that nine other people sustained severe injuries when the vehicles involved collided.

The vehicles were identified to belong to Adamawa Sunshine and Gombe Line transport companies.

He was quoted as saying, “Fifteen people, 13 males and two females, were involved in the crash.

“Five died on the spot, and they were all males. Nine others sustained injuries, among them were eight males and one female; the only person that escaped unhurt is a female.”

He added that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the Toro Local Government General Hospital mortuary.

By Aisar Fagge and Uzair Adam Imam

Comrade Ibrahim A. Waiya, President, Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF), made the observation while presenting a paper at a one-day review workshop organized by Mambayya House, Kano, for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Northwest Zone with support from MacArthur Foundation.

The workshop held at Mambayya House, Kano, on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, was themed “Towards Improving Internal Accountability for sustainable Anti-Corruption Efforts.”

Comrade Waiya said, “With the proliferation of many political civil society organizations masquerading as activists, there is the need for a national regulatory body that will be monitoring the activities of CSOs. The only thing most CSOs are doing now is self-regulatory, while Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has the record of board of trustees.”

Waiya added that another factor slowing down CSOs’ efforts to mitigate corruption in the country is the lack of proper knowledge.

He said, “It is a known fact that some civil society organizations have the zeal and commitment to fight corruption in the system, however many of such organizations lack the basic knowledge to appreciate the provisions of certain protocols, which need to be applied under certain circumstances to effectively, achieve the desired results.”

He further added that “Some of these protocols may include the use of the FOI [Freedom of Information] Act.

It is basically significant for CSOs to have basic information required to be used as a tool in the fight against corrupt practices. And the absence of such vital information may lead a person into committing a certain crime such as deformation of character and the rest, and may as well jeopardize one’s mission,” he stated.

“It is high time for CSOs to start looking for local donors such as Dangote, BUA and A. A Rano to fund their activities,” Waiya concluded.

The event had in attendance Prof. Ismaila M. Zango, the Director, Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Bayero University, Kano, Mabayya House; Aqibu Hamisu Garko, CEO, African Center for Transparency and Advocacy; Dr Bello Ibrahim, Deputy Director, Training, Mambayya House; Abdullahi Usman K/Na’isa, M & E Officer, MacArthur Project, Mambayya House; Dr Samaila Suleiman, Program Officer, MacArthur Project, Mambayya House and many more important personalities within the country.

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

The Federal University of Technology, Owerri chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) inaugurated a five-person probe panel on September 22, 2021, to assess the procedures used to appoint the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, as a Professor of Cybersecurity. The panel said due process was followed by the governing council and the management of the university in the appointment. The report by the panel is an interesting one considering the heated public debates generated by the appointment.

Most of the people who criticized the appointment were academics. As expected, the majority of those who supported the critics were Pantami’s political adversaries. Pantami’s appointment supporters were either some academics, his political supporters, and those who sat on the fence.

The verdict by the five-person probe panel certainly gives Pantami and FUTO some respite. His political supporters will be delighted, while opponents of the appointment will fire more because the majority of them are academics. Tenacious criticism on issues that concern knowledge is an attitude of academics.

During the first debate, Pantami’s ‘friend’ Professor  Farooq Kperogi said: “There are basically three legitimate ways to become a professor: by climbing the professional ladder in a university; by being appointed to the position from outside academia in recognition of vast and varied industry experience or artistic wizardly in a field; and through a courtesy appointment. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami’s record does not qualify him for any”.

However, Prof. Tukur Sa’ad, a former Vice-Chancellor, said, countering Kperogi, “A University can decide to appoint an individual to a position either through promotion or straight appointment based on the criteria they set up independent of the National University Commission (NUC).”

Pantami’s political allies and supporters are delighted with the report of the ASUU panel because they see Pantami as a potential vice presidential candidate with many advantages.  To all Pantami’s supporters, his professorship is a big addition to his credentials which his potential rivals don’t have. They believe that Patnami is young, highly educated with a PhD. from the United Kingdom (UK) at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

These supporters add that politically, Pantami is a good ‘material’ to balance a presidential ticket. He is from North-East Nigeria; he fits into the agitation for the northeast to present the vice-presidential candidate in 2023. Moreover, he is a household name in the North-west. They will feel at home with him – he is their cousin.

Additionally, he is an Islamic scholar with vast cult-like followership nationwide. Pantami is Buhari’s strong confidant and ally. The general belief among Pantami’s promoters is; Pantami from the northeast as vice-presidential candidate with any presidential candidate from the south, especially the southwest, will balance a presidential ticket and serve as a strategy for the APC to retain the presidency in 2023.

Nevertheless, academics and oppositions against Pantami’s professorship will continue to hit hard while his political rivals will clap for them. So Pantami and his supporters should be well-prepared for the game.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja. He can be contacted via zaymohd@yahoo.com.

By Muhammad Sabiu