Kano State

By Abdussamad Ahmad Yusuf

It was Wednesday evening, and the clock was ticking to 6:00 pm. Alongside two friends, we were joined by another friend’s friend reminiscing my 44 days stay in Abuja, the Federal Capital — the longest I have stayed off Kano.

It’s a roadside discussion, and all topics have the freedom to cross our minds. So we present, discuss, argue and analyze. We sometimes even pass verdicts and judgments.

In Kano, it is Majalisar Bakin Titi, the roadside parley. It is a local gathering of men. In the local roadside parleys, unless in some exceptional circumstances, there is segregation of age, group, social and even economic status. While there is Majalisar Attajirai, the wealthy’s parley, there is that of the humbles, nobles to that of ‘Yan caca, the gamblers’. Men branched in the majalisa after work or after market hours in the evening. For the youth, joblessness and idle-mindedness have made their conversation almost an all-day affair.

It’s easy when you talk of youth or a range of bachelors, rest assured, women and girls have to find a way to dominate the discussions.

Habu would begin showing the girl in blue that her Atampa cost six thousand, the bag two, her veil eight hundred; putting everything she wore averagely kept at Fifteen thousand. She was of humble background and not suitable to be “settled with”, he concluded. Marrying her means you have to struggle all your life to satisfy your needs and hers’ and expect nothing from her side or her parents. Is it crass materialism or the new normal? Anyway, it’s a roadside parley, not an academic or intellectual forum.

Until the beginning of the 1990s, marriage is contracted on the mutual friendship between two families of the intending couples, for settling disputes, generally to stiff bonds or forge new ones. Therefore, the material benefit does not count as much, even at the community, not a familial level, where crowd-achievement due to communal lifestyle is more prevalent than the individualist materialism in prevalence today. 

This permeation of a materialistic viewpoint of life has degraded the standard of familial life seen manifest in roadside discussions, more unfortunately, stemming from the Manyan Gobe, leaders of tomorrow who are nurturing an ignorant standpoint for the nucleus of society: the family.

The Habu thesis painted above shows the complexity of young man’s  ‘misthinking’ wealth, status and rank for fancy and expensive dress and accoutrements. Sadly, it has reduced young girls of marriageable ages to racing for material possessions; an iPhone – the latest in the market, expensive ‘Vatik’ Atampa, posh shoes for kece raini, ‘being above equals’.

These are the ‘yan mata Roadside Discussions extolled to the high heaven, and about-to-marry young men internalize as the best description of a woman to seek her marriage. It is no longer about the Ladabi (obedience, and I am not being apologetic to the ‘alpha’ men), kunya (modesty and good manner), hankali (sobriety), mutumci (humanity toward others) and  Karamci (generosity), in addition to what zamani, current dynamic brings; industriousness, economic dexterity, education (in the western sense or the karatun boko) and may be tech-friendliness.

The Roadside parleys are a hub to discuss which girl has the curviest hip, who has a bosom chest and who walks beguiling, and identifying who has Girman kai, ego in the community. The one egoistic, closely when interrogated, one would discover she is the one who is not trading her teeth for beautiful smiles at any of these near-jobless men, what they will turn out to brand Rashin kamun kai, not modest. The best of the times, if any,  is one that discusses, often prejudicial perspectives, who is mutuniyar kirki, a good girl and who is not.

Many girls dodge passing by roadsides parley to skip their topic brought up unsolicited and to evade the roadside social appraisals and analyses of their lives.

What I will not close, however, without telling you; beautiful marriages have been tied from Roadside Discussions, even though, one may argue equally, many have been dissolved thanks to Roadside Discussions. But, the paradox notwithstanding should not deter young men and women from being the best they can be so that the best comes their way.

Abdussamad wrote in from Kano and can be reached at Abdussamadahmad69@gmail.com

By Uzair Adam Imam

Investigations by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) revealed that there had been massive purchases and hoarding of paddy rice across the country by the suspected members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). 

A statement by the MURIC chairman, Kano State Chapter, Mallam Hassan Sani Indabawa, disclosed on Friday, calling on the Nigerian authorities to look into what it described as the ‘unwholesome attitude by the Christian association. 

The Muslim body also revealed that CAN is deliberately trying to create artificial food scarcity to discredit the Federal Government by making its efforts in the agriculture sector look like a failure. 

The statement read, “Series of investigations conducted by MURIC has revealed a disturbing trend of massive purchase of paddy rice across the rice producing belt, cutting across the three northern agricultural ecological zones of the country. Several reports from the field established that a huge number of strange people are massively buying the commodity in bulk in Kebbi, Niger, Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Yobe states.

 “The eight northern states account for over 70% of the rice being produced in the country. Nigeria is currently the largest producer of rice in Africa with a production capacity of 5.0m metric tonnes per annum.

“With the onset of the current harvest season, the unusual high demand for the commodity has already spiked the price upwards, aiming for the roof. While farmers may be happy with a good price, however, the rush for the mass purchase of the commodity is enough to raise some genuine concerns.

 “Farmers and other stakeholders noticed an organized and coordinated purchase of the commodity in large quantity. From Kebbi State, down to Gashua in Yobe State, the story of the influx of people, mainly Christians, is the same. They came for massive purchases of tons of rice, both milled and paddy.

CAN make the purchase in large quantity

“Our investigations further point to a high likelihood of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) being involved in this orchestrated mass purchase of rice produced for all Nigerians particularly because the buyers in large quantities are all Christians. They come with their weighing scale and tons of money. It is very suspicious.

 “Apart from the existing aggregating centers, new ones have emerged where the commodity is bought at a higher price. This has already made the price of the commodity to jump up at an alarming rate.

“While farmers and local dealers are happy with the new buyers, many are, alarmed by the disturbing trend. Many of the “new rice merchants” admitted to have been mobilized for the exercise. While it is obvious that the ordinary farmer is happy that he is getting ready buyers, the discerning mind must ask the question: Why are they all Christians?

CAN is plotting against Nigeria, Muslims

“The questions begging for answers are: What is the game plan of CAN? Why is the Christian body desperate to make the bulk purchase and hoard the commodity? And why at this crucial time, a few months to the general elections? Their action has already created unnecessary fear and anxiety, as no one is sure of CAN’s motive.

“Is CAN deliberately trying to create artificial scarcity, or is the Christian umbrella body preparing for a worst-case scenario? Or is it trying to discredit the Federal Government by making its efforts in the agriculture sector look like a failure? We all know how food is being weaponized in modern conflicts. Is CAN driving Nigerians to a stage when everyone will be forced to go to church for before they can get rice to buy?

“We call on the Nigerian authorities to look closely into this desperate move. Both the apex body of Nigerian farmers, the Apex Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) admitted to the unusual demand and the unprecedented hike in the price of the commodity at the peak of this year’s harvest season. 

“The Federal Government should do the needful by preparing adequately and timely to forestall possible hunger due to mischievous hoarding of this essential commodity by some evil forces. FG can evolve a counter-purchase plan to save Nigerians from the Shylock merchants in CAN. We warn CAN to eschew any diabolical plan it may have with the massive purchase of the commodity,” the statement added.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The beneficiaries of the Household Upliftment Programme in Nassarawa Local Government of Kano State are stranded as officials abandon posts without explanations.

The Federal Government had in May 2022 commenced the distribution of debit cards to the beneficiaries of the scheme.

Household Upliftment Programme aims to provide access to targeted cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households as captured from the National Social Register (NSR) based on standard eligibility criteria.

However, some of the beneficiaries expressed worries over how they spent three days going to the distribution centre located at Jigirya in the local government without being attended to.

Our reporter, who visited the Kano State Hisbah Office, Gigirya, where the beneficiaries trooped in hundreds to collect their automated debit cards to withdraw their cash, observed how disappointed they looked.

However, despite arriving at the place early in the morning, the beneficiaries bitterly complained that the officials did not come until around 1 pm.

The Daily Realityreporter gathered that the slowdown in attending to the beneficiaries was due to the failure of the officials to deploy enough staff to handle the issue smoothly.

Zenith Bank, which was in charge of distributing the debit cards to the verified beneficiaries, deployed only six of its staff to handle the people of the local government.

Tension as infant suffocates, paints

An elderly woman at the venue narrated to The Daily Reality how a newly born baby almost died because of the heat and congestion.

She said, “yesterday, we witnessed how a newly born baby of one of us that has been coming here for three days suffocated because of heat and painted.

“We all gathered to see for our eyes the fate of that baby. But at long last, God saved,” she said.

‘Our agent abandons us’

A household, Malam Ibrahim (not real name), who said he was from Tudun Murtala, said today (Friday) was his fourth time at the place, saying he was not attended to.

He said, “It is almost one o’clock, but the agent assigned to our ward has not arrived. Therefore, I think none of us will complete their verification and collect their ATM.”

The Daily Reality learned that a man, identified as Malam Aminu, was said to have caused the delay in attending to the people of Tudun Murtala as he was their agent.

Another household said, “We would have collected our ATM if our agent was around, but he has not arrived yet.”

However, when contacted, Malam Aminu said he was not authorized to speak to journalists.

Discrepancies in benefits noticeable

Efforts by The Daily Reality to know the exact amount of money from one household to another were unsuccessful as the officials refused to speak on the matter.

The officials have kept it a secret to themselves that even the beneficiaries are confused, as they don’t know how much they will get until they pay them.

Some of the beneficiaries have received N70,000, N57,000 and some others N40,000.

One of the households told our reporter, “My sister received N70,000 naira yesterday. What you get depends on the information you give them during registration.”

Another woman said her friend received a sum of N57,000 Friday.

However, when our reporter contacted the woman in charge of the program to comment on the matter, she said she was not allowed to speak on it as they were busy making arrangements to fast-track the distribution.  

An official, who does not want his name in print, said the discrepancies were a result of what he called “old and new systems.”

He said those on the old system were paid a sum in the past. Therefore they will not receive the same amount as those on the new system.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Engausa Global Tech Hub (EGTH) has launched a library to enhance lifetime reading culture among youths at its school premises in Kano State, Nigeria.

The founder and chairman of the technology hub, Engineer Habu Ringim, disclosed this in a statement he made available to journalists on Saturday. 

Ringim said the library is named Maisuga Ringim Library and has both hard and soft copies of reading materials for the apprentice of the technology hub. 

He also stated that the Maisuga Ringim Library project aimed at bridging the wide gap between academic and vocational education in society.

He further explained that the effort was to break the barriers of language impeding the cognitive aspect of learning in almost all African education systems. 

The statement read, “Launching Maisuga Ringim Library is a big step towards cultivating a rational lifetime reading habit among our youths by making the scarce library resources available to our apprentices at both entry and professional levels of learning hard and soft skills.

“The main objectives of EngausaHub.com, as our motto reads, ‘breaking barriers and bridging gaps’, is to entrench an inclusive technical skills acquisition and entrepreneurial skills among our teaming youths, against all language barriers and technical gaps bedevilling the human capital development at the grassroots.

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

The Daily Reality recalls that over two thousand people, including university lecturers and students who have never had formal education, such as Almajirai, graduated from the Engausa Global Technology Hub just recently. 

The graduates were trained in various skills to become self-reliant and job providers.

By Muhammad Aminu

The ECWA Eye Hospital (EEH) Kano and Christoffel Blinden Mission (CBM) Global will offer a comprehensive and inclusive eye health (CIEH) programme targeting residents of Kano and Jigawa States.

Thousands of individuals are billed to benefit from the programme that will run for four consecutive years in the selected states.

The Chief Medical Director, EEH, Dr Atima Mayor, who disclosed this at the launch of the project in Kano, said that the project was born out of efforts to tackle visual impairment and break the circle of poverty in the states.

According to Dr Mayor, the project, which is supported by CMB UK and Australia, has over 80000 other beneficiaries who will benefit from different tests and services within the timeframe for the project.

He further explained that issues of disability, especially visual impairment and poverty among persons with disabilities, have been affecting the quality of life.

“North West has the highest number of blindness. As population increases, it’s expected that the number of blindness will also shoot up hence the need to act,” he said.

He called on the two states to collaborate with ECWA to continue with the project even after this 4-year intervention project to ensure the efforts is sustained to tackle the challenge in the States.

The CMD further explained that Kaduna and Katsina States, which were initially part of the project, were temporarily put on hold until the security situation improves before the project can be expanded to the states.

In his address, EEH Administrator STEPHEN NUBOBGA who was represented by CMB Project Coordinator Phillip Ode noted that between September 1, 2022, to August 2026, the project targets over 90,000 beneficiaries in the project in the selected states.

“500 children will be operated on for cataracts, 1000 adults, 250 children with glaucoma and other major surgeries, 400 adults with glaucoma, 250 other children with minor surgeries and 50 retinoblastomas.

“2000 individuals for spectacles, 5000 for refraction, and  80, 000 others for free eye screening,” he disclosed.

In her earlier opening remark, CBM Global Country Director, Ms Ekaete Umoh, said that the historic project launched is aimed at targeting individuals in hard-to-reach areas in the selected states to help persons with visual challenges and break the cycle of poverty in their ranks.

She said that CMB Global is concerned with the rising cases of visual impairment in Nigeria, specifically North West Nigeria, where there is a high concentration of visually impaired persons.

“As the prevalence of blindness in Nigeria is 4.2%, it is estimated that 4.25 million adults aged 40 years and above have moderate to severe visual impairment or blindness.

” Available statistics show that 28.6% (14 million of all adults living in the North West Nigeria have a visual impairment. As a result, the majority are unable to work, are excluded from many community activities and require additional support, which impacts on their families and trapped them in the cycle of poverty,” he stressed.

According to Nububga, 100 persons living with disabilities (PWDs) will be empowered with means of livelihood as a component of the project.

Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health, Kano and Jigawa States, as well as the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), commended the donors and partners for working together to address the issue.

Also speaking, the royal father of the day, Alh Mohammed Bashir Mahe, commended the EEH and CMB for helping the needy in society, adding that traditional institutions are always ready to support such a noble cause.

By Ibrahim Uba

Many observers have already concluded that no gubernatorial election in Kano has ever drawn more aspirants like the forthcoming 2023 election. There are over ten politicians who are vying for the governorship position. All these contenders have started their publicity campaigns, creating political razzmatazz on social media, radio stations, and across every nook and cranny of Kano state.

I carried out some research about each of the aspirants and also studied their campaign activities carefully. Some appear to lack experience and competence to govern the great Kano state, while others adequately fit the job. But I form an opinion that Bala Gwagwarwa, of SDP, is the overall best for the following reasons:

1. Of all the aspirants, Gwagwarwa is the only one who held leadership positions in all three tiers of government — local, state and federal. He served as local government chairman, commissioner for water resources; commissioner for science and technology; and national treasurer of the All Progressive Congress (APC). None of the other aspirants has as huge hands-on administrative experience as he does.

2. From his interviews and speeches, Gwagwarwa is very aware of how people suffer from growing poverty, especially in rural communities. He also seems to understand all the needs clearly and wants of the Kano people. The recurrent statement in all his speeches is that:

 “When I am elected as the governor of Kano, my administration will prioritise vital sectors of the economy. I will not concentrate on insignificant projects of building flyovers and underpasses which have nothing to do with the economic progress of the people. My administration will  empower the poor and restore the autonomy of local governments to help the development of rural communities…”

3. Moreover, while the rest candidates are campaigning through splashing money and political mobilisations, Gwagwarwa’s campaign focal point is explaining his blueprint and plan of action. He is fully prepared and ready to swing into action from day one. I was awed at his recent interview on radio stations, where he skillfully explained ways to revitalise small business owners in Kano.

4. Gwagwarwa is also well-educated and visionary. Moreover, he is a man with a good disposition and charisma that the Kano people will be proud to call their governor.

I hope the good people of Kano state will pay attention and vote wisely. Any aspiring candidate who is inexperienced and/or without a manifesto doesn’t deserve our votes. We tried many, but they failed us. Our inability to vote for the right people is the main problem.

May Allah make the best of choices for us, Ameen!

Ibrahim Uba wrote from Kano via ibrahimuba752@gmail.com.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Dr Sani Isah Abba, a specialist in optimization algorithms and artificial intelligence from Kano, had made it to the global list of the top 2% of scientists in their field by a joint research evaluation metric developed by Stanford University’s Elsevier and the Meta-Research Innovation Center.

Abba is a certified engineer and a lecturer at Base University Abuja, Nigeria.

According to a document obtained by The Daily Reality (TDR), Abba has published more than one hundred research articles and book chapters.

He also presented at numerous regional, national, and worldwide conferences.

The academic did his BSc, MSc and PhD at Bayero University Kano, Sharda University India and Near East University Cyprus, respectively.

TDR understands that his works can be accessed on Google Scholar, Research Gate and ORCID, among other academic platforms.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Civil Society organizations, under the Auspices Alliance for Good Governance, demanded the immediate prosecution of the APC Chairman, Aminu Ali Shana.

The APC chairman of Yautan Arewa, Gabasawa LGA, was arrested on Friday by the police in possession of over three hundred permanent voter’s cards (PVC) in Kano.

A statement issued and signed by Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, the Kano Publicity Secretary of the party, demanded legal action against the chairman.

It was gathered that the police has already transferred the suspect to the department of criminal investigation (CID) of Kano state command in Bompai for further investigation.

The NNPP said it will pursue this case to a logical conclusion in the interest of protecting democratic principles.

The statement says, “The offence is contrary to sections 21 and 22 1 (a), (b) and (c) of the electoral act 2022 as amended.”

It also stated that the NNPP chairman of Kano State, Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa had directed the party’s legal team to file a petition against the suspect and his core sponsors.

“I directed our legal advisor to also write to the electoral umpire (INEC) to as a matter of responsibility pursue necessary action on the matter” Doguwa confirmed in the statement.

He said the issue of PVC hoarding subsections source of major concern in Kano ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“We are naturally vindicated by this arrest, we keep our fingers crossed as we await the next steps to be taken by both the Independent National Electoral Commission and Nigeria Police,” he added.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has emerged as the first in the north on the Times Higher Education 2023 World University Rankings list. 

Topping the list in the north, BUK is the fourth in Nigeria, with the University of Ibadan emerging as the best in the country.  

The University of Lagos is the second, while Covenant University is the third in the ranking in Nigeria. 

BUK, being the first varsity in Kano, was established in 1975. It currently has over fifty thousand students.

The University of Oxford emerges as the best university in the world, followed by Havard University, the University of Cambridge Standford University. 

BUK students, alums, and some of the university’s lecturers took to their social media spaces to jubilate the success.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Former Kano State governor, Senator Kabiru Gaya, said the All Progressive Congress (APC) was not worried by the growing strength of the New Nigerian People Party (NNPP).

The senator said NNPP would only strike terror into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the party would split the votes that belong to the PDP. 

He stated that the APC would sweep the votes in all the electoral positions, predicting that the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) would come second while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would come third.

Gaya disclosed this to journalists in Kano when he was debunking the rumour going around that the vice president, Yemi Osibanjo, was sidelined in the formation of the presidential campaign team of APC. 

He said the information was misleading and fake and that Osinbajo remained committed to the presidential ambition of the APC candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said, “I am a member of the Tinubu campaign team, so the issue of sidelining anyone does not arise. Even the president has said he wants Osinbajo to be with him in running the affairs of the country to ensure a seamless handover.

“There is nothing like Osinbajo is sidelined because, after the primaries, we were in Osinbajo’s house when Tinubu came and said he needed our support. We had over two hours’ discussion. They are working together. Politics should not divide us,” he stated.