Education

By Hussaini Ibrahim Sulaiman

Education is the bedrock of any progressive society, and in Kano State, a quiet revolution is unfolding under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

 Since assuming office, the governor has taken every step to rejuvenate the state’s education sector. 

His administration’s commitment to education is evident in its words and concrete actions, which continue to change lives. His administration has prioritised key reforms in infrastructure, teacher welfare, school enrollment, and vocational training. 

These initiatives have solidified his reputation as a leader who truly understands that Kano’s future rests on the shoulders of its young population.

Recognising the deep-rooted challenges facing Kano’s education system, Governor Yusuf declared a state of emergency in education. 

His administration swiftly addressed the dilapidated state of public schools, teacher shortages, and declining student enrollment. With a clear vision, the governor initiated reforms that have already begun yielding remarkable results.

Budgetary allocations reflect a leader’s priorities. In the 2024 budget, 29.9% of the total allocation was dedicated to education, far surpassing UNESCO’s recommended benchmark of 26%. 

Further demonstrating his unwavering commitment, the state has allocated 31% of its total 2025 budget to the education sector. 

With this substantial funding, the government has embarked on large-scale school renovations, procured essential learning materials, and paid outstanding teacher salaries. 

These initiatives restore public confidence in the education system and ensure that Kano’s children have the resources they need to succeed.

Public schools in Kano needed rehabilitation. The administration launched a massive school renovation project to upgradethousands of classrooms across the state. 

Over 80,000 three-seater desks have been provided, ensuring that 240,000 students no longer have to sit on bare floors. 

New classrooms have been built to tackle the issue of overcrowding. Schools that once faced challenges with insufficient facilities are now reaping the benefits of modern learning environments, enhancing the accessibility and effectiveness of education.

Kano State has long faced the challenge of out-of-school children. To tackle this, the government is constructing 130 new boys’ and girls’ schools to boost enrollment in the next academic session. 

Governor Yusuf’s administration has also launched an initiative to distribute 789,000 school uniforms to pupils in 7,092 public schools. 

At the flag-off of the distribution of over two million education materials—including textbooks, mats, and uniforms—the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that every child in Kano has access to quality education.

The state government is providing a monthly stipend of N20,000 to 40,000 needy girls to promote school enrolment, retention, and completion. 

This initiative specifically aims to ensure that more girls receive formal education, lower the dropout rate, and promote gender inclusivity in education.

A well-trained and motivated teacher is at the heart of any successful education system. Governor Yusuf has approved the permanent employment of 5,500 volunteer teachers under the Better Education Services Delivery for All (BESDA) initiative. 

He has also approved the promotion of over 20,500 primary and junior secondary school teachers.

This move boosts morale and is a strategic step toward retaining and attracting quality educators. By improving teacher welfare and providing capacity-building opportunities, the governor ensures that Kano’s students receive education from highly skilled and dedicated professionals. 

The administration has also cleared backlogs of unpaid teacher salaries and allowances, significantly boosting teacher motivation and improving classroom engagement and student performance.

To further support education, the government has spent N1.3 billion on paying National Examination Council (NECO) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) registration fees for 57,000 indigent students. 

This intervention has lifted a huge financial burden off struggling families and ensured that no student is denied access to secondary and technical education due to economic hardship.

Education extends beyond the classroom. The administration has revived 26 vocational and skills acquisition schools across the state. Institutions such as the Kano School of Informatics, Kano State Driving School, and Aliko Dangote Skills Acquisition Centre have been revamped to equip young people with practical skills.

The government plans to create over 63,000 jobs annually through the garment industry. By reopening garment manufacturing clusters in Kano’s 44 local government areas, thousands of young people will be empowered with tailoring and fashion design skills. This approach will provide an alternative pathway for youths who may not pursue conventional higher education.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s remarkable efforts in education have not gone unnoticed. During the 2024 World Teachers’ Day celebrations, the Nigeria Union of Teachers honored him with the Golden Award for Outstanding Performance in Education Reform. 

This accolade recognises his dedication to improving Kano’s education sector.

Under his leadership, Kano State is experiencing an educational renaissance. His administration’s policies, strategic investments, and people-centered approach have laid a strong foundation for a brighter future. 

The real impact of his reforms can be seen in the smiles of students who now have desks to sit on, the joy of teachers whose hard work is being rewarded, and the hope of parents who can now dream of a better future for their children.

Aiki Sai Me Shi—only the committed can achieve the task. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has not only shown commitment but has also demonstrated visionary leadership, courage, and an unrelenting passion for education. Kano’s education sector is on an unstoppable trajectory of growth, and if the momentum is sustained, the state will soon be a shining example of educational excellence in Nigeria.

By Saifullahi Attahir

If there was ever anything that gave me goosebumps and immense pleasure, it was being surrounded by intellectuals and mature minds absorbing facts and figures about governance, economics, public health, policymaking, national security, and international relations. In such situations I easily lose myself, forgetting almost all other things.

Even at medical school, my best lectures were those with frequent digressions, whereby the lecturer would discuss the pathogenesis of diseases for 30 minutes and later sidetrack into discussing politics, governance, or other life issues. I always enjoyed classes led by Prof. Sagir Gumel, Dr. Murtala Abubakar, Dr. Rasheed Wemimo, Dr. Aliyu Mai Goro, and co. During such lectures, I often observed some of my colleagues disappointment for such deviation. I rather casually show indifference, for I was eternally grateful for such discussions due to the stimulatory effect they had on my mind.

After such classes, I sometimes followed up with the lecturer, not to ask about a medical concept I did not grasp, but to ask for further explanation on policy making, project execution, budgetary expenditures, why African countries are left behind, and similar pressing issues.

In situations where I can’t catch up with the lecturer, I jotted down the questions for further deliberation.

One of the manifest feature I know about my greediness was at reading books. I can open five different books in a day. I lack such discipline to finish up one before another. I can start reading ‘Mein Kampf’ by Adolf Hitler, and halfway through 300 pages, I would pick up ‘My Life’ by Sir Ahmadu Bello, and would have to concurrently read both until the end.

I often scolded myself for such an attitude, but I can’t help myself. The only way to practice such discipline was to at least read two different books in a day. Such was a triumph in my practice of self-discipline. This was apart from my conventional medical textbooks.

To some of my friends, I was called an accidental medical doctor, but actually it was a perfect fate guided by the merciful Lord that I’m studying medicine. For it was only medicine that makes reading books easier for you. Although time is precious in this profession, but one finds it easier to do anything you are passionate about. The daily interaction we have with people at their most vulnerable state was another psychostimulant. Seeing humans suffering from disease conditions is heartachy. Some of the causes are mere ignorance, poverty, superstitions, and limited resources.

The contribution one can give couldn’t be limited to just prescribing drugs or surgical procedures that end up affecting one person. It’s much better to involve one self in to position that may bring possible change to the whole society even in form of orientation.

What also motivated me more was how I wasn’t the first to traverse this similar path. Bibliophiles were common among medical students and medical professionals.

At international level, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Muhammad, was a physician. Most of the current economic development of Malaysia was attributed to him. The South American revolutionary figure Che Guevara was a physician. Atul Gawande was an endocrinologist, health policy analyst, adviser to former President Obama, campaign volunteer to former President Bill Clinton, and adviser to USAID/WHO on health policies.

Frantz Fanon was another physician, psychiatrist, racial discrimination activist, and political writer. Dr. Zakir Naik was a renowned Islamic scholar, comparative religion expert, and physician.

At the national level, Prof. Usman Yusuf is a haematologist, former NHIS DG, and currently a political activist. Dr. Aminu Abdullahi Taura was a psychiatrist and former SSG to the Jigawa state government. Dr. Nuraddeen Muhammad was a psychiatrist and former cabinet minister to President Goodluck Jonathan.

During ward rounds and clinics, my mind often wanders to enquire not just about the diagnosis but the actual cause of the disease condition; why would a 17-year-old multiparous young lady develop peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM)? Why would a 5-year-old child develop severe anaemia from a mosquito bite? Why would a 25-year-old friend of mine develop chronic kidney disease, and his family would have to sell all their belongings for his treatment? Why are our Accident and Emergency units filled with road traffic accident cases? Was it bad road conditions or lack of adherence to traffic laws and orders?

Why are African countries still battling with 19th century diseases like Tuberculosis, filariasis, and malarial infections? Why issues of fighting cervical cancer and vaccination campaigns are treated with contempt in our societies? Why access to basic primary healthcare in Nigeria was still a luxury 50 years after Alma Ata declaration? The questions are never-ending.

Answers to these questions could be found not in the conventional medical textbooks like Robbins/Cotrand, Davidson, or Sabiston. Answers to these questions are there on our faces. Answers to these questions are tied to the very fabric of our social life, our public institutions, our culture, and our life perspectives.

In order to make any significant contribution towards the betterment of this kind of society, it would be quite easier as an insider rather than an outsider. You can’t bring any positive outcome by just talking or commenting. It was rightly stated that a cat in gloves catches no mice.

The real players in a game are always better than the spectators. A player deserves accolades despite his shortcomings, frequent falls, and inability to deliver as planned theoretically. For the player has seen it all, because so many things in public life are not as they appear. It’s only when you are there that the reality becomes visible. This is the reason why many leaders who have goodwill and enjoy public support appear to have lost track or contributed insignificantly when elected or appointed into office.

But despite all these challenges, one can’t decline to do something good just because something bad might happen. The risk is worth it.

Saifullahi Attahir wrote from Federal University Dutse. He can be reached via; saifullahiattahir93@gmail.com

By Ibrahim Yunusa

Bayero University, Kano (BUK), holds its 39th convocation ceremony on Wednesday, February 12.

In a press briefing, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sagir Abbas, announced that “4,402 graduands of different programs from their respective faculties” will receive their certificates.

He also stated that “another 4,367 graduands from seven faculties in which 176 first degrees, 275 PhDs, 2,590 Master’s Degrees and 535 Postgraduate Diplomas will be graduating.”

The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that Khalil Sulaiman Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NACENI, will deliver the convocation lecture on Friday, February 14.

The lecture, “Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Pathway to National Development,” will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Jeffrey Nnaji.

On the event’s final day, the university will confer Honorary Degrees on two distinguished Nigerians: Colonel Sani Bello, a former Military Governor of Kano State, and Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, popularly known as A.A. Rano.

Explaining the choice of honorees, Professor Abbas stated that “the first nominee is selected due to his vast contribution to education during his administration as Military Governor of Kano State, in which he established the prominent Kano Science Schools and he facilitated the varsity permanent site.”

Regarding Alhaji Rano, the Vice-Chancellor said, “the second nominee is being on the list by sponsoring students from Kibiya, Rano and Bunkure local governments, and he sustains in giving them 60 thousand Naira as upkeep from last session to date and his unwavering contributions to not only underprivileged of his community during Ramadan but to the state at large.”

The 39th convocation will also witness the awarding of Emeritus Professorship titles to three distinguished retired professors, including Professor Garba Dahuwa Azare, Professor Julius Afolabi Falola, and Professor Musa Muhammad Borodo.

Professor Abbas concluded that “the sum of not less than 100 million is budgeted for the whole convocation ceremonies.”

By Maryam Ahmad

Remita has commenced the sale of ePINs for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry following JAMB’s official announcement.

Sales will run from February 3 to April 7, 2025. Candidates can purchase ePINs via the Remita website, mobile app, and authorised agents nationwide.

Chinedu Alisa, Head of Enterprise Assets at Remita, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to accessible education, ensuring seamless payments for students regardless of location. He warned against unauthorised price hikes, stressing that ePINs must be sold at JAMB’s approved rates.

Remita has also empowered agents and schools to facilitate sales while offering bulk purchase commissions, reinforcing a fair and transparent registration process.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Fatima Alkali Saleh, a bright student from Yobe State, has been awarded a full scholarship by Dr. Sa’id Alkali Kori, Chairman of ThinkLab Group, after scoring an impressive 336 in the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam.

The scholarship covers her tuition and essential academic tools, including a laptop and technical drawing instruments, supporting her ambition to study architecture.

Dr. Kori praised Fatima’s dedication, stating that her excellence aligns with ThinkLab Group’s vision of empowering future leaders.

Fatima expressed gratitude for the life-changing opportunity, vowing to give back to her community. Her achievement stands as an inspiration for students across Nigeria.

By Anas Abbas

The Mass Communication Students Association (MACOSA) chapter at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), organised a thought-provoking public lecture titled “Ethical Journalism in a Polarized Society: Striking the Balance Between Truth and Responsibility.” 

The event, which took place on Saturday morning in the conference room of the University’s Faculty of Communication, attracted many students and faculty members.

The guest speaker, Mallam Aisar Salihu Musa, illuminated the critical aspects of journalism. He expressed deep concerns about the current state of journalism in Nigeria, stating, “The issue of objectivity in Nigerian journalism is a myth.” 

Malam Aisar highlighted that challenges such as editorial bias, advertorial influences, and media ownership significantly hinder the progress of journalism in the country. 

He further emphasised that journalism in Nigeria often resembles an act rather than a respected profession, especially when compared to fields like law.

Financial instability, he noted, further complicates matters, preventing journalists from adhering to ethical standards. 

To counter these challenges, Aisar urged journalists to prioritise accuracy, responsibility, and balance in their reporting. He specifically advised them to be sensitive when covering conflict and religious issues.

He also encouraged journalists to join professional bodies that offer training opportunities, which can enhance their skills and support ethical reporting in their daily work.

The lecture concluded with a call to action for aspiring journalists to uphold the integrity of their profession amidst the complexities of a polarised society.

By Suleiman Ahmed 

In today’s communication landscape, mass communication and journalism are often used interchangeably, particularly by those with little or no knowledge of both fields. This misconception leads to questions about their definitions, similarities and distinctions. While both are components of the media, they represent distinct concepts. 

Mass communication involves reaching diverse audiences through various media channels, such as radio, television, newspapers, websites, and social media. Journalism is a specific practice within mass communication that focuses on gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information.

According to Little John and Foss, mass communication is a “process whereby media organisations produce and transmit messages to a large public and the process by which those messages are sought, used, understood and influence the audience.”

McQuail states that mass communication is “only one of the processes of communication operating at the society-wide level, readily identified by its institutional characteristics.” It involves creating, transmitting, receiving, and analysing messages through mass media.

Mass communication aims to share information with a broader audience and influence societal norms, behaviour, and attitudes. It has a wider audience and covers various topics like entertainment, education, advertising, public relations, etc. Mass communication content is informative, educative, persuasive, or entertaining. It is mostly designed to capture attention, encourage specific actions, or elicit emotional responses. 

A professional in mass communication can work in various industries, including entertainment, business, politics, health, and agriculture, by creating content that will encourage the audience and serve a specific objective. Mass communication has a broad spectrum of mediums, including television, radio, newspapers, and magazines.

In contrast, journalism is a subset of mass communication. It focuses mainly on gathering and reporting news about events, issues, and topics that are of interest to the public. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) defines journalism as the “work of journalists, media workers, and social media producers who gather, process, and distribute news and related content.” 

Meanwhile, journalist Robert Niles sees journalism as a “form of writing that tells people about things that happened, but that they might not have known about already.” Journalism seeks to report the truth and provide accurate, fair, and thorough information. It includes analysis, uncovered facts, and insights into relevant stories.

Unlike mass communication, journalism encourages critical thinking and discussion among readers, listeners, and viewers. It is guided by strong ethical guidelines to ensure credibility, objectivity, and accountability. Journalism is mostly involved in reporting, editing, and producing news content for media organisations such as radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and other news platforms.

In conclusion, while mass communication and journalism are interconnected, they belong to distinct fields and have different objectives. Mass communication serves a broader purpose by Engaging a heterogeneous audience through various media to convey messages. On the other hand, journalism is a discipline dedicated to accurately reporting facts and information. Journalism plays a crucial role in informing the public and fostering democratic participation.

Suleiman Ahmed wrote from Bayero University, Kano, and can be contacted via suleson94@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed Aisha Maikudi as Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, now renamed Yakubu Gowon University.  

Her dismissal was announced just hours after she presided over the institution’s matriculation ceremony. 

Maikudi’s tenure had been marred by controversy, with some lecturers alleging she held the position illegally.  

In her place, Tinubu appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice Chancellor for a six-month term, with a directive that she would not be eligible to apply for the substantive position when it becomes available.  

Details later…

By Aisar Fagge

Speaking during the 3rd International Conference organized by the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID) with the theme “The Role of Moral Etiquettes of Islamic Civilisation in the Development of Human Communities: Assessment of Past and Present,” Dr Usman Muhammad Bugaje lamented why economic metrics always dominate the discussions on development. He cheerfully also complained, “This conference should have come earlier than now but it is never late.”

As the keynote speaker, Dr Bugaje mentioned three main focal points of the conference:

“First, the theme introduces a missing direction in the contemporary discussion of development. When you listen to the discussion on developments, it is usually the material aspect of development that occupies the space. Even the metrics for measuring development tends to focus on the material. They have not yet measured the Islamic definition of human development. This is the gap conferences like this should help to bridge.

“Secondly, this theme will raise consciousness and provoke a debate on the quality of morality. Everybody talks about morality. But what is the quality of that morality? There are a lot of debates and contentions on these issues.

“Thirdly, this theme underscores the significance of moral standard on human development. I hope the centre and director will try and find research grants locally for the students to study how moral consciousness has affected human development in Nigeria,” the speaker listed.

It is always difficult for Dr Bugaje to talk without critiquing the state of the nation and bad governance. Talking about morality and development in Nigeria, the speaker lamented how immoral politicians ruined Nigeria since 1999.

“What happened in the last 25 years in Nigeria concerning human development is a wreckage. Poverty has tripled, insecurity has escalated, infrastructures have broken down and decay, marriages and social norms have broken down, the fabric of the society is no longer what is used to be.

“Today, in our educational system, the moral consciousness is completely missing or absence. In those days, you got your degree in character and learning, but today, no character no leaning. In governance, this government has gotten more money than any government since the beginning of Nigeria, but what the Sardunas were able to achieve with very little money we now cannot do with 1000 x times the same amount of that money! So what has happened? All these are moral questions that raise consciousness,” he grieved.

The conference that was held at the Centre for Excellence, Bayero University, Kano from 3rd to 5th February, 2025 was honoured by distinguished politicians, esteemed academics, business people and many participants from different academic disciplines.

The Director of the centre, Associate Professor, Taufiq Abubakar Hussaini thanked the sponsors of the event especially Alhaji Aminu Dantata, A.Y Maikifi, Alhaji A.A Rano, Alhaji Hamza Abdullahi Umar Daura, A.Y.M Shafa and others.

By Aisar Fagge

In its effort to combat moral decadence among youths, the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID) organized a 3rd International Conference on the theme “The Role of Moral Etiquettes of Islamic Civilisation in the Development of Human Communities: Assessment of Past and Present,” held at the Centre for Excellence, Bayero University, Kano, from 3rd to 5th February 2025.

During his welcome remark, Associate Professor Taufiq Abubakar Hussaini, the director of the centre, said, “This year’s conference is guided by witnessing moral decadence in all spheres of our lives.”

“We anticipate engaging discussions, insightful presentations and collaborative efforts towards a shared goal of promoting moral etiquettes, good character, peace, understanding and unity. These are the bedrock of Islamic civilization, which has persistently built many nations and civilisations over centuries.

“I encouraged the participants to actively participate, exchange ideas, form connections that will extend beyond the confines of this conference so that our various societal ills will heal from the inevitable doom,” Prof Hussaini remarked.

As the event’s promoter, the head of Markazu Khulafa Al-Rashidin, Sheikh Abdulwahab Abdallah (Imam Ahlissunnah Wal Jama’ah), thanked the management of Bayero University, Kano, for “establishing the centre that focuses on building the morality of the ummah.”

Sheikh Abdulwahab urged the centre to introduce a programme or course that teaches politicians the politics and exemplary leadership style of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) so that they can learn how he led the entire Ummah with justice and fairness.

“This North is blessed with great people. The bad ones are few. It is our collective duty to educate and integrate them to have politicians and leaders who are Islamically rooted and God-fearing”, the Sheikh concluded.

The conference witnessed the attendance of prominent people such as Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf represented by the Commissioner of Education, Dr Ali Haruna, Barrister Ali Sa’adu Birnin Kudu (former Jigawa State governor), Prof. Muhammad Sani Umar R/Lemo, Prof. Emeritus Muhammad Sani Zaharadden, Sheikh Tijjani Bala Qalarawi, Prof. Ahmad Murtada, Prof Babangida, Prof. Muhammad Muslim Ibrahim and many host of other academic dons, Islamic clerics, security chiefs, wealthy individuals and participants from both local and international educational institutions.