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By Uzair Adam Imam

The Kano State Cancer Center has disclosed plan to establish Cancer Care Trust Fund to help the vulnerable indegene patients in the state with the cost of their health treatments.

The co-odinator of the Center, Dr. Aminu Magashi, stated this on Monday in a Facebook post sighted by The Daily Reality.

Magashi said the effort was in collaboration with some international development partners, NGOs and business community among others.

He added that it was also part of their plans to set up a Cancer Registry/Directory in collaboration with the Kano State Bureau of Statistics.

He further stated that also distinguished health committee members tasked them to establish the governing board and open the centre soon as well as be updating.

In the post, Magashi said, “In my humble capacity as the Coordinator of the Kano State Cancer Care Center, today, Tuesday 3rd October, I received in my office a powerful delegation of the Kano State House of Assembly Health Committee led by Hon. Zakariyya Alhassan Ishaq, Chairman Health Committee, Hon. Usman Abubakar Tasiu, Deputy Chair and other esteemed members of the committee and Clarks.

“It was a familiarisation visit. With me is our Legal Adviser/Secretary, Barrister Maryam Jibrin, from the Ministry of Justice.

“We updated them on our plans to commence work at the Cancer Centre with our ‘PPP’ partner H360 as well as our intention to establish the Cancer Care Trust Fund in collaboration with our international development partners, NGOs and business community to cater for indigent patients/vulnerable people’s cost of treatment, set up of Cancer Registry/Directory in collaboration with Kano State Bureau of Statistics.

“Distinguished health committee members tasked us to establish the governing board and open the centre soon as well as be updating,” he added.

As observed by The Daily Reality, many people who commented under the post have expressed their gratitude and prayed for the centre to succeed.

By Uzair Adam Imam

An indegine of Kano, Abdulmalik Abubakar has emerged winner of the 2023 Historian Competition.

Abdulmalik Abubakar parted with a sum of N500,000 prize and a week-long trip to Kenya for tourism.

The competition was sponsored by the Restored Heart Foundation based in Abuja to inspire young undergradute students in Nigeria and Africa about the value of African history.

Isa is law student from Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and his victory surprised many people including the participants who were mostly history students.

Upon his success, Isa engraved his name in the history of Nigeria and Africa and was crowned 2023 “Keeper of the African History.”

I struggle with taugh history questions

Isa recounted how he had struggled with toughest history questions before he could defeat other history students and emerged victorious.

He added that most of the questions he answered at the inter-regional stage were not about Nigeria.

He stated that he was initially afriaid, adding that, “My fears were that I am not a student of History and all the questions were questions that digged deep into history.

“Like at the inter-regional stage moving to the top 6, I was never asked a single question about Nigeria, my first question was “What was the first country to get independence from East Africa ?” Likewise all the other questions were outside Nigeria totally.

How I knock down a history student at the final stage

“My emergence is an amazing one, because my opponent is a final year student of History at UNILORIN, but despite being a Law student I dedicated my time to read wide and trained well to see I emerge winner, which God makes it happened.

“When we reached quoter-final to be the top six moving to Calabar, I was the only Muslim hausa-fulani from North, and they required each to wear his native attire, I felt like I would be redicule there because some of our leaders were not friendly with the southerners.

“And, also I was given a topic completely different from my field of study which was “Nigeria’s oil boom and resources curse”.

“However, God granted me the wisdom and strength to deliver a marvelous presentation which received huge rounds of applause from all over the auditorium.

I grab this opportunity when surfing on social media

Isa stated that he was surfing online media platforms as usual, then he came across the link of the competition.

He added that the competition was both online and physical and he was among the 3,000 applicants who were invited for a screening.

He said, “It started with about 3k applicants where we were screened down to 800 then to further stages that included the top 100, then we got to be the top 30 (5 participants representing the 6 zones of the federation).

“We then got to compete at the intra-regional stage, where only 2 participants qualified from each of the 6 geo-political zone to be among the top 12.

“After I emerged among the top 12. We then had our inter-regional stage, I competed aginst one lady from South-east, I knocked her out to be among the top 6.

“As top 6, we moved to quoter-final stage at the University of Calabar for Presentation stage, were I passed the stage and became among the top 4.

“As top 4, we then moved to semi-final in enugu, but IPOB’s sit at home order made them to reschedule it to Bayero University for the semi-final stage, which was a debate stage, where l defeated my opponent from Southwest at the debate stage in BUK and qualified to be the finalist, who were the top 2 for the final stage.

“We yesterday had the Grand-finale at the Nile University Abuja where I defeated my opponent from North-Central (UNILORIN) to be the Winner as well as the “Crowned Keeper of African History 2023”

Reward for excellence

Hardworking pays as Isa emerged winner with the following prizes:

1. Cash prize of 500,000.
2. I week trip to Kenya for tourism
3. Crown Keeper of the African History 2023.
4. One year free data subscription package.
5. Ambassadorship.
6. Special guest to be invited to the grand final next year.

Words of wisdom, encouragement

“I want to encourage my fellow students to read wide and also outside their field of study, every knowledge is valuable. I never thought history could be my eye opener and way to be outside Nigeria.

“But my passion to read History and commitment to other areas of knowledge has given me all these advantages.

I made it despite tight schedules

“I want to tell my fellow students that as at now, I’m the President of Law Students’ Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN) BUK Chapter and a final year Law student with project and all that, and also the President Kaura Goje Students’ Association (KAGSA) and so many other several students’ engagements, but that does not forestall me from excelling in other fields of endeavors.

“So just be determined and confident, God will assist you to achieve your dreams,” he stated.

By Uzair Adam Imam

There have been moves for collective efforts between the Kano State Bureau of Statistics, Kano Cancer Center and AMG Foundation to establish a comprehensive cancer registry and directory in Kano State.

A statement by the Technical Assistant to the Statistician, General Kano State Bureau of Statistics, Muhammad Tasiu Abbas, disclosed this on Monday.

Abbas said that Dr. Aliyu Isa Aliyu, the Statistician General of Kano State Bureau of Statistics, met with Dr. Amin Magashi about the development.

He added that their meeting revolved around discussing the possibilities of collaboration in establishing a comprehensive cancer registry and directory in the state.

The statement read in part, “The meeting aimed to enhance efforts in collecting and analyzing cancer-related data, ensuring improved planning, prevention, and treatment strategies in the fight against cancer.

“The proposed partnership between the Bureau of Statistics, Cancer Center and AMG Foundation is expected to strengthen the state’s capacity to combat this disease and address the various challenges it poses to public health,” the statement added.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A 12-year-old boy, Ibukun Solomon, in Ondo State, has recounted a harrowing story of how his mother killed his father while he was sleeping.

Salomon said his mother, Tayelolu, killed his father, Felix, who was a farmer, with a pestle after a minor argument.

It was learned that Tayelolu hit her 65-year-old husband on his head three times while he was sleeping in their house, located at the Government Reservation Area, GRA, in the state.

It was also gathered that the couple, in recent times, have been having a crisis, and the wife always threatens to kill the husband and elope.

The son narrated, “My mother killed my father with a pestle in my presence and took to her heels. She used the pestle to hit his head when he was asleep.

“Earlier on the fateful day, a minor argument had ensued between them that resulted in a fight. After the fight, my father went to lie on the chair, and my mother hit his head with the pestle.

“He became unconscious and fell down from where he was sleeping. My mother used the pestle to hit my father’s head three times. He later died.

“When my mother saw that my father was already unconscious, she hid the pestle at the back of our house and ran away.”

I alerted some of the residents, who rushed my father to the hospital. But he later died. His corpse has been deposited at the morgue.

“My mother had three children for my father, and I’m the last child,” he stated.

Also speaking, a brother of the deceased said that the family members have mediated several times to settle the incessant fight between his brother the his wife.

According to him, “The woman had been threatening to kill her husband whenever they were fighting. And the deceased informed us about the threats. But we never knew she would carry out the devilish act.

“But this time, she took laws into her hands and killed our brother for nothing. She must be arrested and prosecuted accordingly,” he stated.

But police in the state said that all efforts to arrest the fleeing suspect were in top gear, and she would be charged in court as soon as possible.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

A deeply disturbing incident has rattled the Agbarha-Otor community when a middle-aged pastor, whose name has been withheld, is facing allegations of brutally murdering a young girl. 

The victim’s lifeless body was found within the pastor’s residence in this rural Delta State community, with reports suggesting that a machete was used in the crime. 

The motive behind this shocking act remains unclear, but some sources speculate a connection to the destruction of a local shrine.

Outraged youths in the community initially sought to take matters into their own hands, but the situation was diffused by the prompt arrival of law enforcement. 

Human rights activist Israel Joe has called upon the Delta State Commissioner of Police to ensure a thorough investigation and prosecution of the accused individual. 

This tragic incident has left the community in mourning, with many demanding justice for the young victim as the investigation progresses.

By Dr Musab Isah Mafara

The security situation in Zamfara State demands immediate and resolute action from the state and the federal government of Nigeria. Security, undoubtedly, should be the topmost priority of any government, as it lays the foundation for meaningful development and progress. Regrettably, recent events and the ongoing spate of attacks across the state indicate that more substantial efforts are required to ensure the safety and well-being of the people.

The recent official recognition and recruitment of ‘Yan-Banga by the state government is a step in the right direction. This move acknowledges the need for additional security personnel to combat the rising wave of criminal activities. Furthermore, the swift response and the rescue of some of the kidnapped students of FUG two days ago is a testament to how the reaction time of the security apparatus in the state has improved. However, one may argue that a similar response has not been seen where the helpless victims were not students. And since we are yet to know the actual number of students kidnapped, it is not far-fetched to assume that some students may still be in captivity in addition to hundreds of Nigerians in the kidnappers’ dens in Zamfara state and beyond.

While we acknowledge that the government may be undertaking efforts behind the scenes, the prevailing situation demands a more visible and concerted response. The spate of attacks that continue to plague the state is a clear indication that there are still gaps in the security apparatus. It is imperative that the government takes swift and decisive action to bridge these gaps.

In his book, Wujubul Hijrah, Shehu Usmanu Danfodiyo discussed the need for a leader to prioritize security even if it means spending all the state resources to ensure the safety of his people. Shehu wrote:
وسيرة ائمة العدل في الفيء والخمس ان يبدا بالسد المخاوف والثغور واستعداد الات الحرب واعطاء المقاتلة فان فضل شيء فللقضاة والعمال وبنيان المساجد والقناطر ثم يفرق على الفقراء فان فضل شيء فالامام مخير بين تفرقته على الاغنياء وخبسه لنوائب الاسلام

(Words in square brackets [ ] are mine to further explain the points made)
“The history of just leaders as regards to [the wealth generated by the state through] fai’ and khumsi [two of the many means of generating income to the treasury of the state] is that the leader should start with fortifying the state [walling the cities, building garrisons, etc], procurement of armament, and paying the salaries/allowances of soldiers. If something remains [in the treasury after that] then the leader should pay the judges and civil servants, and build mosques and bridges [and by extension roads]. And then he distributes the wealth to the poor [this could mean direct cash transfer but also providing social amenities such as schools and hospitals]. If there is still money [in the treasury after all these expenses] then the leader is given the choice of distributing it to the rich or keeping it for a rainy day.”

The quoted text clearly shows the need to give absolute priority to security above all else in the running of a state. Financial investment in the security sector should be a priority, as it is an indispensable component of effective security measures. There is also a need for our security strategy to move from being reactive to attacks to being proactive and preventing attacks. So many villages have been attacked, so many students have been kidnapped that the next attack is a question of when not if. The security measures must also be sustained for the foreseeable future. What tends to happen is that every time a school is attacked, the security agencies become active in some flash points for some days only to let their guards down after a while, until we are taken by ‘surprise’ again by the bandits.

The time for decisive action is now. The people of Zamfara State deserve to live in an environment where their safety and security are guaranteed. The government must intensify efforts, allocate adequate resources, and collaborate with relevant stakeholders, especially the two ministers of defence, to fortify security across the state. Only by doing so can Zamfara State flourish, with meaningful development and progress becoming attainable goals.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Oro Umaru, a resident of Ba’abete Fulani Camp in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, found himself in legal trouble as he was arraigned before a Kwara State Magistrates Court in Ilorin on Thursday, September 21, 2023. 

He stands accused of attempted culpable homicide following an incident involving his neighbour, Abubakar Sanda, within the Fulani Camp. 

The charges against Oro Umaru are based on an alleged altercation that took place on September 8, 2023. 

According to the Police First Information Report, the case was reported by the victim’s brother, Sanda Mohammed. 

The report states that Abubakar Sanda was returning from Kaiama Kara Market to his residence when he was accosted and attacked by Oro Umaru.

In the course of the altercation, Abubakar Sanda’s right wrist was severed from his hand. A police investigation revealed a troubling background to the incident.

Oro Umaru reportedly suspected Abubakar Sanda of having an affair with his wife, Fatima Oro, dating back to 2022. Oro Umaru claimed that he had previously caught them together and reported the incidents to his father, Alhaji Hamadu, but no action was taken. 

In his confession to the police, Oro Umaru admitted to attacking Abubakar Sanda on September 8, 2023, after allegedly catching him in a conversation with his wife. 

Abubakar Sanda fled upon seeing Oro Umaru approaching, but the confrontation ultimately escalated to a violent assault. 

During the court proceedings, the plea of the accused, Oro Umaru, was not taken. Instead, the police prosecutor, Gbenga Ayeni, requested the court remand Oro Umaru in the Federal Correctional Facility pending the completion of the investigation.

By Muhammad Suleiman Yobe.

Yobe State House of Assembly has appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to rehabilitate dilapidated federal roads in the state. 

The House made the plea in a motion presented by the majority leader of the House, Hon. Nasiru Hassan Yusuf, on behalf of all members. 

Presenting the motion, the majority leader of the House said the federal roads constructed over the years are now dilapidated and need to be built for effective and efficient transportation within the state. 

Hon Nasiru Hassan Yusuf said most of the bridges and culverts at the federal roads that linked Potiskum to Jakusko, Babbangida to Bayamari, Buni Yadi to Gulani and Gujba to Ngalda was destroyed in last year’s flood and need federal government intervention. 

The majority leader of the House, who spoke at length on the importance of the roads to the development of the economy, said the poor conditions of the federal roads have affected the state’s commercial activities. 

In their separate contributions to the motion, the members representing Geidam, Damaturu,  Mamudo, Gujba and Machina constituencies described the motion as apt and timely. 

They expressed dismay over the delay in completing some federal roads awarded over the years in the state. 

Presiding over the sitting, the speaker of the House, Rt Hon Chiroma Buba Mashio, appealed to members of the National Assembly representing Yobe to present the matter at the upper chamber for quick response by the federal government.

By Najeebullah Lawan

It becomes a new normal that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embark on a strike to press demand on one issue or another almost every year in Nigeria. This menace has been here since 2009, with each year’s strike becoming worse than the previous one. The feud between ASUU and the Federal Government (FG) has badly, as it is clear, affected the education system in Nigeria.

The battle corners include revitalisation of the universities, providing infrastructure, enhancing research conducts, and reviewing lecturers’ salaries and allowances, among others, as contained in the MoU signed by the Nigerian government and ASUU.

It is essential to note that ASUU is a union of Academic Staff of Universities consisting of [except a few] lecturers from the Nigerian public universities.

These lecturers have wives, children and relatives in the schools they teach nationwide who are under their sponsorship from their hard earnings.

I believe these people will never do anything that could temper with the system because their close relatives and children benefit from it.

Moreover, our lecturers spent decades without substantial review of their salaries despite all the hikes in the price of foodstuffs and other necessities in Nigeria. It is heartbreaking that a university professor earns less than the salary of some government appointees – SAs and PAs.

It is unbecoming to leave these people alone fighting the government that leaves them without the good welfare their counterparts enjoy, even in many African countries. This fight is for all of us.!

In 2020, ASUU stood up to fight for their rights and the students in general, which led to the total closure of all universities in Nigeria. However, the coronavirus pandemic also contributed immensely to the longevity of this strike, making it one of the worst and longest strikes ever in the history of Nigerian universities.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian government did nothing to stop the strike. It betrayed the university lecturers, leaving them and their students stranded amidst a dilemma.

Again, in 2021, there was another strike by the university lecturers who demanded FG to fulfil its promises made in 2012 and 2020. This strike lasted eight months, and the lecturers were not paid a single kobo. As I write this, FG still owes lecturers months’ salaries and areas.

For all the struggle by ASUU, they were doing this for the betterment and standardisation of higher institutions nationwide. However, they got nothing from most of the students and parents in return except insults and mocks.

As of that time, ASUU warned students and parents that if FG defeated them in that fight, there would be a serious problem for students and parents that not everyone could bear.

Defeating ASUU, the Federal Government deliberately refused to fund its universities with enough funds.

As a result, in 2023, there was an increment in registration fees by many universities, such as the University of Maiduguri, University of Benin, University of Lagos, ATBU, ABU and a host of others. However, the one by Bayero University, Kano (BUK), brought a loud noise in the entire north, probably due to its status. Here are some clarifications:

1:- We heard that the university Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Abbas, made an explanation concerning the situation of the universities in Nigeria, saying that everything related to running the administration of the university is costly.

2:- Recently, ABU extended the resumption date for students due to an outage by the Kaduna Electric Distribution Company (KAEDCO) over alleged millions of Naira debt, which ABU owes KAEDCO.

3:- The monthly budget for running Bayero University is close to N100m. This money is spent on KEDCO for power, diesel, water and security.

4:- The FG is giving only N11m, which represents only 1% out of 10% BUK is spending every month, and the management of the university manages to utilise the system with the little they are getting from the government.

5:- The current economic situation of Nigeria and the Federal Government’s manner towards universities has left the management of Bayero University, Kano, with no option but to increase the central registration fee for students.

Despite these, BUK remains the cheapest Federal University in the entire north except for a few varsities currently in the second semester, and a review of their registration fees could be seen as something inevitable.

Regarding the just concluded points, we can say that ASUU does not hate education, and its fight is for the system’s revival. Also, the increment of university registration comes from negligence by the Federal Government. Meanwhile, without this kind of increment, the system will undoubtedly collapse.

Najibullah writes from Kano, Nassarawa Local Government. He can be reached via najeebullahlawan@gmail.com

By Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu

Sabon Gari Kano has always been a melting pot – drawing multiple nationalities and ethnicities who converge in the settlement and make it truly unique. Prof. Adamu Baikie’s “Sabongari: The Simmering Melting Pot of Kano State” is the latest addition to the literature on the area. Having grown up in the area, Prof. Baikie gives a unique ethnographic account of the place and its development.

More of a personal recollection from a resident, than a rigorous archival excavation of community history, Baikie’s Sabongari [sic – that is exactly how he spelt it throughout the book] provides additional fascinating information about other developments in Kano. In particular, Education, in which Prof Baikie also released a companion book, “Nigerian Education: Ivory Towers & Other Issues.” It’s a pity that the few pictures included in the Sabongari book did not come out too well, being black and white and blurry.

Prof. Baikie’s discourse on Sabon Gari (my preferred spelling) is similar to Neil Skinner’s “Alhaji Mahmudu Ƙoƙi – Kano Malam”, in which the subject provides a primary participant observer’s insight about the development of either events, or in this case, a community. It is truly fascinating.

There were, of course, other works on Sabon Gari Kano, long before this. The most monumental was Ahmed Bako’s “Sabon Gari Kano: A history of Immigrants and Inter-group Relations in the 20th century” (UDUS Press, 2006) and based on his groundbreaking PhD thesis, “A Socioeconomic History of Sabon Garni Kano, 1913-1989” submitted to Bayero University in 1990. Prof. Baikie approaches the study of Sabon Gari from the perspective of ‘son of the soil’ who lived in the neighborhood, playing footer, attending Church service there and interacting with the waves and waves of Nigerian and West African immigrants who settled in the borough as neighbors and friends.

Prof Adamu Baikie mentored both me and my father at various stages of our careers, so I certainly don’t mind plugging this wonderful memoir. This is not a review, as I am sure Dr Shamsuddeen Sani will be doing the honors soon enough [on Facebook]. It is just to let people know that the book, launched on 20th August 2023, is now available at Zamani Bookstore, Sabon Gari at the cost of ₦3,500. It is another addition to our understanding of the history of Kano.