News

By Habibu Maaruf Abdu

The maiden edition of the Kano International Film Festival was held from 28th to 30th September 2022 in Kano, the iconic epicentre of Northern Nigeria’s Kannywood film industry. The festival, organised by Classical Film Modern Academy, is billed to hold annually to promote the film industry and build its personnel’s capacity. The Kannywood filmmakers have fully participated in the festival, which came a few months after their collective boycott against a similar event, the Zuma International Film Festival (ZUFF 2022).

Themed ‘Content Connectivity’, the festival received over 50 films from 15 countries. Among its 20 official selections are Harsh Living (UK), Wade in the water (US), The Irish Barn Dance (Ireland), Cemetery Hunt (Brazil), Everything collapses (Italy), I am a chance (Belgium), and Love trap (Cameroon).It also featured paper presentations, panel discussions, a masterclass, a film screening, and Award Ceremony.

The three-day occasion kicked off on Wednesday, 28th September 2022, with paper presentations and round table discussions at the Grand Central Hotel in Kano city. The first paper on  ‘Film regulation’  was presented by the zonal director of the National Film Censorship Board, Mr Umar Fagge. It was followed by papers on  ‘VFX technology’ and  ‘English subtitle’ by Mal. Inuwa Tofa and Kabiru Musa Jammaje, respectively.

The second day of the festival saw its founder, Captain Musa Gambo, leading a masterclass at the Classical Film Modern Academy in the morning before the event later moved to Platinum Cinema to screen the Kannywood films nominated for awards in different categories. The films include Murjani (Dir. Sadiq N. Mafia, 2018), Sadauki (Dir. Hassan Giggs, 2019), Bana Bakwai (Dir. Ali Nuhu, 2020), Tsakaninmu and Sarki Goma Zamani Goma (both Dir. by Ali Nuhu in 2021), and more.

The historic film festival ended Friday, 30th September 2022, with an award ceremony at the Grand Central Hotel. The award event, hosted by Jamilu Yakasai, recorded a massive turnout of actors, directors, and producers, alongside dignitaries such as the SSA to the Kano state Governor on Kannywood affairs, Mal. Khalid Musa, and the industry’s pioneer trade analyst, Mr Usman Jibril (Solo). However, superstars like Ali Nuhu, Adam Zango, and Maryam Yahaya, who are also part of the award winners, were absent from the ceremony.

On the other hand, Kannywood’s highly respected elder, Alhaji Ibrahim Mandawari, whose name was alleged to be unjustly removed from the recipients of the ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ in this year’s edition of the Zuma Film Festival, has received the same ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ at the event.

Below is the complete list of winners:

Best Actor: Adam a Zango for Sadauki

Best Actress: Maryam Yahaya for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma

Best Supporting Actor: Alhassan Kwalle for Sadauki

Best Supporting Actress: Aisha Najamu for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma

Best Director: Ali Nuhu for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma

Life Time Achievement Award: Ibrahim Mandawari

Best Film: Sarki Goma Zamani Goma (Abubakar Bashir Mai-Shadda)

Best Series: Izzar So (Lawan Ahmad)

Best Screenplay: Yakubu M. Kumo for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma

Best Cinematograhy: Murtala Balala for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma

Best Production Design: Mairo Abdullahi for Sadauki

Best lighting: Usman Usee for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma

Best Sound: Shamsu Glo/Sani Candy for Sarki Goma Zamani Goma

Best Editor: Mailafiya Abdullahi

By Uzair Adam Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday told the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary institution-based unions that the Federal Government would not sign an agreement it can not implement.

The President disclosed this on Friday, September 7, 2022, during his last budget presentation in Abuja.

Buhari said his administration alone could not provide the resources required for funding tertiary education.

The Daily Reality reported that the Court of Appeal in Abuja ordered members of ASUU to resume work with immediate effect.

He added that, rather, the government remained committed to the implementation of agreements reached with staff unions within available resources.

He was also quoted to have said: “The government notes with dismay the crisis that has paralyzed activities in the public universities in the country. We expect the staff of these institutions to show a better appreciation of the current state of affairs in the country.

“In the determined effort to resolve the issue, we have provided a total of 470.0 billion in the 2023 budget from our constrained resources, for revitalization and salary enhancements in the tertiary institutions.

“Distinguished Senators and Honourable members, it is instructive to note that today Government alone cannot provide the resources required for funding tertiary education.

“In most countries, the cost of education is jointly shared between the government and the people, especially at the tertiary level. It is imperative therefore that we introduce a more sustainable model of funding tertiary education.

“The government remains committed to the implementation of agreements reached with staff unions within available resources. This is why we have remained resolute that we will not sign any agreement that we would be unable to implement. Individual institutions would be encouraged to keep faith with any agreement reached in due course to ensure stability in the educational sector.

“Government is equally committed to improving the quality of education at other levels. Recently, we implemented various incentives aimed at motivating and enhancing teachers’ development in our schools. In the health sector, the government intends to focus attention on equipping existing hospitals and rehabilitating infrastructure. Emphasis will also be on local production of basic medicines/vaccines.

“As human capital is the most critical resource for national development, our overall policy thrust is to expand our investment in education, health and social protection,” he added.

By Aisar Fagge

Ten school drop-out youths sponsored by Aminu Magashi Garba Foundation completed training on Thursday at the Centre for Technology Development, Kaduna State Polytechnic.

The graduated youths undergo eight weeks of training and four weeks of internship in automobile repairs.

The foundation also presented the youths with starter kits by the Director and Finance Manager, Sulaiman Umar Jalo and Maimuna Abdulrahman.

However, the youths would also undergo a one-month internship to acquire more practical skills in automobile repairs.

The foundation said this would provide an enabling environment to further explore opportunities/partnerships to support them secure admission and acquiring National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) certificate.

The Daily Reality gathered that the sum of 1200000 was paid by the foundation to train the youth on automobile repairs.

The Nigeria court of appeal sitting in Abuja has ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resume classes and call off the strike immediately.

The court issues the order today Friday, and the appellate court said ASUU should obey the order of an industrial court which directed the suspension of the strike before seeking to appeal the judgment.

Details later.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Ahead of the 2022 World Cup, which begins on November 20, the tournament host, Qatar, has released a list of dos and don’ts, especially for fans from other countries.

The wealthy Gulf nation has disclosed that spectators coming should note the bans that have been in place on alcohol, the LGBT community, exposing parts of the female body, and swearing are still in effect.

The host added that disrespect for mosques, loud music and sounds, dating, and taking pictures of people without their consent, are also banned.

Apart from the moral rules, there are also regulations concerning COVID-19 and its vaccine.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy mandated that all visitors six years of age and older show proof of a negative PCR test result obtained within 48 hours of their departure or a positive rapid antigen test result obtained within 24 hours of arrival.

Rapid antigen test results from legitimate medical facilities that are not self-administered only will be accepted. If visitors do not exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, no additional testing will be necessary in Qatar.

Additionally, everybody above 18-year-old must download the Ehteraz contact tracing phone app, which the government manages.

By Uzair Adam Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari arrives at the National Assembly for the presentation of the N19.76TRN 2023 Appropriation Bill.

The budget presentation would be Buhari’s last presentation before he hands over power to his successor on May 29, 2022.

The event is currently taking place at the improvised House of Representatives chamber and opened with the national anthem.

The president reportedly arrived at the chamber around 10:05 am alongside his ministers and the meeting startedimmediatelyy.

Daily Trust reported that entry into the complex is limited as special accreditation arrangements were made for journalists, securitys and members of staff on duty for the presentation.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Thursday vowed to sue the Federal Government for registering bodies to checkmate its activities.

Recently, the federal government has officially registered two new academic unions in Nigerian Universities as trade unions.

The bodies are the Congress of Nigerian Universities Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA.

The counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana, disclosed this on Thursday when he was featured on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

Falana said the registrations of the two unions as illegal, saying; “ASUU is going to court. It is going to be the National Industrial (NIC).”

By Uzair Adam Imam

The New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) has started a legal duel with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for refusing to allow the party to replace Senator Ibrahim Shekarau for Kano Central Senatorial District in the 2023 general elections.

NNPP wanted to replace Shekarau with the former senator, Rufa’i Sani Hanga, after his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) some months ago.

Shekarau defected and joined PDP citing irreconciliable differences with the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as his reasons.

On it’s part, INEC argued that Shekarau has not officially informed the electoral body about his defection to PDP reiterating that it can not replace his name with another person.

In an interview with journalists on Wednesday, the NNPP presidential candidate Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso said: “We have conducted (fresh) primary election where we elected Rufa’i Sani Hanga, as a replacement and if INEC can do justice to us, based on the constitution, the time for the replacement of candidates is not yet over.

“We have taken the matter to court because INEC did not understand the process. The court will make them understand it.”

Kwankwaso, who wondered why INEC refused to replace Shekarau’s name with their new candidate, asked “would INEC announce Shekarau as the legally elected representative for the district if NNPP wins the senatorial seat?”

By Uzair Adam Imam

Over two thousand people, including university lecturers and students, graduated from the Engausa Global Technology Hub.

The graduates were trained in various skills ranging from science and technology.

The founder and chairman of the technology hub, Engr. Mustapha Habu Ringim, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday to mark this year’s United Nations World Teachers Day.

Engausa was founded in 2019 and registered in 2022 and recorded numerous successes in teaching people various scientific and technological skills to depend on themselves and become employers of labour.

Engineer Habu said English and other languages inhibit learning progress, especially in northern Nigeria.

He stated, “It doesn’t mean that we are not developed when we teach in our mother tongue. Knowledge can be taught using any language.

“Later, one can learn any other language he feels interested in, like English, Arabic or French.

“But it is not wrong to learn in your mother tongue, as many people perceive. For this reason, we, among others, admit even almajiri, who have no background in western education and are school dropouts, into Engausa Global Technology Hub and teach them in Hausa.

“Today, many such dropouts and almajiri have become teachers in Engausa. They even teach university graduates, MSc and PhD holders as well.”

We give emphasis on the practical aspect

Unlike in tertiary schools and other institutions of learning, the Engausa Global Technology Hub gives emphasis on practical aspects than theories.

This, however, enables the students to fully understand the subject matter rather than mastering theories and definitions of concepts.

Ringim added, “More than 90 per cent of what we do in Engausa is practical. The theoretical aspects do not exceed 10 per cent.”

Unemployment worsens insecurity in Nigeria

Ringim also argued that the rising insecurity in Nigeria is not unconnected with the high unemployment rate in the country.

Insecurity has been one of the ongoing challenges facing Nigeria, especially in the northern part, over the years.

He stated, “We need to know that teaching our youths some skills is one of the panaceas to the lingering security challenge in Nigeria. Therefore, society needs to welcome inventions of this sort.

Engausa is gaining global recognition and support from Federal Government and academics like Prof. Abdallah Uba Adamu, Prof. Hafizu Miko Yakasai, and Engr. Isa Musa Gumel, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, Dr Binta Usman, Dr Hauwa Muhammad Bagaje, among others.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A yet-to-be-identified lady has beaten a child believed to be her maid’s to death in Anambra State.

In a video that went viral on social media on Thursday, the lady confessed to the murder of the deceased, whose identity has not yet been disclosed. 

Information at our disposal reveals that the deceased was brutally assaulted and died before she could get medical attention. 

 “I beat her, and she started convulsing, so I took her to Kings (hospital). Getting there, she died, so I threw her body here.” The suspect said in Igbo

After her arrest by the Anambra Command of the National Agency for Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, she led security personnel to the bush, where she dumped the body of the deceased.

The body was reported to be decomposing at the time of writing this report.