Kano

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Kano state government has dispatched the fifth batch of 50 first-class graduates to pursue their Master’s Degree programmes in India. 

The beneficiaries, part of the 1,100 indigenous students sponsored by the state government for overseas studies, departed from Malam Aminu Kano International Airport for Lagos on a Max Air aircraft at 7:30 a.m. on Friday. 

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr. Yusuf Kofarmata, and other government officials were present to witness the departure.

From Lagos, the beneficiaries are scheduled to board an Air Peace flight to India at 2:00 p.m. Speaking after the takeoff, Dr. Kofarmata noted that this initiative is a continuation of the government’s commitment to the 1,100 postgraduate scholarship programme for the academic year 23-2024. 

The selected graduates, now on their way to reputed institutions like Sharda, Symbiosis, Mewar, Sri Sai, Swarnnim, and Kalinga, were chosen based on their outstanding performance during their undergraduate studies. 

Highlighting the significance of the programme, Dr. Kofarmata stressed that the students would focus on internationally competitive fields, contributing to bridging the manpower gap not only in Kano State but also across the nation. 

“A total of 550 students are the first batch who are going to eight reputable universities to study in internationally competitive areas of professionalism to bridge the manpower gap in the state and across the nation.  

“The students are also expected to acquire experience, skills, and knowledge with the view to revamp the state commercial status and explore other potential for socio-economic development,” he said. 

Providing an update on the progress of the previous batches, Dr. Kofarmata revealed that the students had already commenced their academic pursuits, and approximately 30 beneficiaries had secured casual employment with their respective institutions, a testament to their academic prowess. 

Acknowledging the support and commitment of Governor Yusuf, the Commissioner noted the celebration among beneficiaries, parents, well-wishers, and citizens of the state.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Aminu Magashi Garba (AMG) Foundation has pledged its support to 50 individuals in Kano State in a groundbreaking effort aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant thugs into society. 

The announcement was made by the foundation’s founder, Aminu Magashi Garba, via a Facebook post on Tuesday, following the “Post Oct 17 Kano Youth Summit” held at Sani Abacha Stadium. 

Garba expressed the foundation’s commitment to fostering positive change in the community by providing opportunities for former troublemakers to redirect their lives.  

The initiative seeks to empower these individuals with the necessary skills and support to successfully reintegrate into society. 

During a courtesy visit to the AMG Foundation by the Kano Controller of the Federal Fire Service, Mr. Sholadoye Kazeem, on Monday, November 20, 2023, a new dimension to the foundation’s efforts was unveiled. 

The foundation has partnered with the Federal Fire Service to train 30 youths as “Fire Safety Ambassadors.”

These ambassadors will undergo rigorous training to handle fire safety and prevention measures effectively. 

Garba explained that the trained youths would be strategically placed in congested markets and business areas to mitigate the risk of fire outbreaks.

In return for their services, each ambassador will receive a monthly allowance of N15,000 for three months.  

The hope is that the Kano State government will consider retaining them as ad-hoc staff members after the initial training period. 

The visionary initiative also involves collaborative efforts with the Kano State Police Command and the Youth Society for Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Social Vices (YOSPIS). 

According to him, the YOSPIS organisation has been actively engaged in rehabilitating over 200 repentant thugs, making it a valuable partner in the AMG Foundation’s mission. 

Garba expressed gratitude for the support from the Kano Controller of the Federal Fire Service and highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in creating lasting impact.  

The AMG Foundation’s multifaceted approach to social intervention demonstrates its commitment to addressing various challenges faced by the youth in Kano State. 

The collaboration between the AMG Foundation, government agencies, and grassroots organisations serves as a model for holistic community development and crime prevention efforts.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Kano State has emerged as a primary recipient of a groundbreaking European Union-funded initiative.

The programme, designed to enhance learning and empower youth, is set to make a substantial impact in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto states. 

The Ministry of Education’s Director of Public Enlightenment issued a statement on Tuesday, detailing a briefing by a delegation from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) led by Mr. Michael Banda.

The initiative aims to bolster education and skills development opportunities for both girls and boys in the selected states. 

Running for four years, from September 2023 to August 2027, the programme will be implemented across 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in each of the three states.

Its ambitious scope encompasses approximately 1.2 million learners, 5,000 teachers, 150 education officials, and 5,400 community members, focusing on various educational interventions. 

Mr. Banda outlined the programme’s three primary objectives as strengthening education governance and learning, expanding access to safe and inclusive learning environments, and delivering quality, continuous learning with enhanced competencies. 

Recognising the evolving digital landscape, Mr. Banda emphasised the importance of digital training for both teachers and learners.

He stressed the need for a systematic approach involving teachers, learners, and ministry officials to successfully integrate digital technology into the education sector. 

The programme also places emphasis on empowering education committees, such as the Schools Based Management Committee, to foster community partnerships and elevate the overall standard of education. Addressing potential challenges, Mr. Banda noted that data assessment might be a hurdle in Kano, citing historical inaccuracies in teacher recruitment.

To address this, he advocated for the establishment of a Teachers Management Information data system. Expressing gratitude, Commissioner Umar Doguwa thanked the EU for selecting Kano as a beneficiary state.

He also pledged the administration’s unwavering support to reach the targeted 1.2 million students and 5,000 teachers, highlighting the state government’s approval of funds for a comprehensive census of all teachers.

By Zailani Bappa

The satellite television, Arewa24, with headquarters in Kano, will continue to be a pain for northerners who cherish their heritage. It is a necessary evil and a bad influence on the teeming youth in a predominantly conservative society. But, it is established to achieve a purpose and do that efficiently and quickly.

I learned the medium was established by the US government through one of its established NGOs some nine years ago. Amidst the devastating experience of Boko Haram in this part of the country, several studies have indicated to the West that the passion for Islamic values in the North and the teeming followership of a springing set of radical Salafists in the region is the major cause of such developing activism….or should I say…terrorism.

Hence, the decision to spend the hard-earned tax-payers money of the American people to build an entertainment television station in the heart of conservative Kano (after rejecting Kaduna and Abuja as a base for the new medium). I am sure you know that when these guys give you a dime worth of something with the right hand, they are sure enough to take back something worth a dollar from you with the left hand.

So, the Arewa 24 came into light with a bang…..good hands employed mostly popular actors from the entertainment industry as pioneer staff, with good pay for them to work optimally and to stay, very enticing and entertaining programmes with fresh breath of air and of course, all programmes beamed to us with the best of technology one can find around here. Significantly, most programmes target women and the young.

Free of charge, we were entertained until the station became a menu that came to every table in the house. Then came the next stage of the plan (as I see it). It was sold out to a very rich and powerful Nigerian who has the capacity and the passion to run it according to both the quality of content and the pursuit of the target.

Gradually, the programmes started becoming more daring in their approach to change. There is mild and uncoordinated resistance here and there, but the medium has a strong advisory consultant. They evade or outrightly neutralise every challenge from angry quarters at times. And they will continue to do so.

I firmly believe that the Arewa 24 debut, acceptability, prowess, and popularity (often challenged with visionless resistance) are only the tip of the iceberg. This is an era of globalisation. It is a moving train we cannot stop. It will reach its destination, ultimately. Our resistance to it will continue to be a massage to its global ego.

So, for those who understand this phenomenon, just pray, stay calm and do your own thing according to your conscience. Teach your young ones to value your values the way you can, very hard and consistently; then, leave the rest to God. This fight is just too big for us……..for every one of us.

Zailani Bappa wrote from Bauchi State via zailanbappa@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Kano governorship saga continues as Abba takes battle to Supreme Court Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, ousted by the electoral tribunal and subsequently denied reprieve by the Court of Appeal, has pledged to contest the ruling at the Supreme Court.

The appeal court, situated in Abuja, upheld the tribunal’s decision, unseating Yusuf and confirming Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the legitimate winner of the March 18 election. 

Governor Yusuf, undeterred by the setback, conveyed his determination in a televised address on Friday night.

“Our lawyers will challenge the Appeal Court judgment at the Supreme Court. We trust that the Supreme Court will restore the mandate entrusted to us by the people of Kano,” he asserted, urging citizens to remain law-abiding amid the legal wrangling, with security measures in place to ensure public order. 

Conversely, the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, hailed the court’s decision as a triumph for democracy.

Expressing gratitude to the judiciary for maintaining a fair administration of justice, Ganduje acknowledged the challenges faced during the case.

“This victory is for all of us. We know what happened during the election, and by the grace of God, we got a fair judgement in favour of our great party, APC,” he remarked. 

Ganduje, anticipating further legal manoeuvres, remarked, “There is nothing wrong for them to go to the Supreme Court. We too, we are ready to meet them in the Supreme Court. Insha Allah, we will win at the Supreme Court as well.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

There was a tragedy in Sharada, Kano, as 35-year-old Saleh Abdullahi was discovered lifeless in a room, having taken his own life by hanging yesterday.

The distressing scene unfolded when Saleh’s brother, Idris Hamisu, returned home from morning prayers. 

Hamisu recounted the tragic discovery to the Daily Trust: “I came back from morning prayers, my wife wanted to prepare food for our children and she was looking for matches to set fire but there was none. She remembered that Salisu was usually using it for local perfume. When she sent our child to collect the matches, the boy saw him hanging and he ran back shouting that Yaya Saleh was hung by someone. I then rushed to the room and saw it was true.” 

The victim left behind a note, the initial words of which read, “I am sorry,” yet the remaining contents remained indecipherable, leaving a veil of mystery over the motive behind this heartbreaking act. 

Idris Hamisu, grappling with the tragedy, shared insights into Saleh’s recent struggles: “We didn’t have any problem. All I know is that these recent days he had been worried, and as businessmen, we usually feel like that when the market is bad. 

‘’We are business people and we trade in furniture, but Saleh sometimes engaged in buying and selling old materials.  

“He showed signs of worry these days because he collected money from someone and bought materials worth N400,000 in Rijiyar Zaki from some people and they took him to the house where they kept the materials and told him to come back another day to take them. When he asked for their phone number, they said since he saw the house he could just come back anytime, and when he went back later he could not find the house. That was what caused the worry for him because the money was not his and the owner put pressure on him to pay back.” 

The frustration of being unable to locate the sellers intensified Saleh’s mounting stress, with lenders demanding repayment.

The Daily Reality has not been able to come across any statement from authorities in respect of the incident.

By Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu

Birnin Kudu. The 1960s. An incredibly wonderful town. Still a wonderful town! Even more, wonderful, friendly people. So far away from Kano that a whole limerick was composed to warn of its distance ‘Birnin Kudu da nisa take / ɗa ya ɓata bare jika /.

For me, the town evokes memories of wonderful summer months spent there in my auntie’s house in ‘Gangare’ quarters, literally, a sloppy part of the town located in a depression. Years later, they filled the depression on the main road, making it easier for motorists to travel through the town easily. The mountain range has a wonderful greenback during the rainy season. The range stretches as far as the eyes can see, providing a wonderful wallpaper for the students in the secondary school (BKSS) at the foot of the mountain.

Memories of her earthen water storage pot (randa) with jema-scented grass floating in to give the water a cool, pleasant scented taste. The mere presence of the jema grass also scented the room. Then there is the river, about two kilometres away from her house. More like a brook than a river, the clear water flowing over the underlying rock bed was a wonderful sight for a city boy. I used to spend hours just watching the water bubbling gently under the bridge towards an unknown destination and trying to read my African Film (Lance Spearman) pictorial novels

And the rocks that littered the town – dark, broody, holding centuries of secrets. Massive rocks – you can see them from the atrium of her house. It became a pleasure to sleep in the open atrium, the night sky framed with those slabs. The rock paintings enhanced the appeal of the town discovered a decade earlier, in the 1950s. Conferring on the town an ancient status – and they had evidence of a 2,000-year human artistic activity.

However, the best memory was the kindirmo (yoghourt) market, right by the roadside near the entrance to the market. Sold by the stereotypical Fulani milkmaids. Kindirmo is so thick that it breaks up like ice floes on a frozen river when you hit the skin film on top of the large calabash holding it. Kindirmo is so sweet that it harks back at an ancestral memory of existence. Pure. Natural.

My old aunt was an artist and adept at churning up the thick kindirmo with equally massive balls of fura. Using a ludayi (ladle) carved from a gourd plant, she was adept at blending the fura right into the kindirmo floes in a calabash. The end product was a supremely nourishing, rich, tasty meal of classic fura – containing all the ingredients needed to nourish the body. Absolutely no sugar is needed or even desired. As you slurp it, you are often lucky to come across an unblended fura – gaya. Taken in a calabash container with ludayi. The ecstasy can only be imagined.

Sold with the kindirmo was fresh butter. Aunt used to fry the butter into a ghee. Pour a spoonful into any meal – ecstasy reloaded! Evoked Hassan Wayam’s verse:

Ga fura ta mai nono /

Tuwo na mai nama /

Years passed by, and my childhood memories of Birnin Kudu were kept in storage in my mind. Whenever I passed by the town – my aunt had left the place in mid-1980s when her husband passed on – and crossed the bridge, the memories came flashing by. Of the only friend I made, a Yusha’u, whom I cannot trace.

The daily grind made it difficult to re-create the culinary pleasures of my aunt’s fura. Further, I was too occupied with other things. One day, the urge came back after my return from studies. The question was, where would one get a fura meal? I was told it has now become a franchised business, and right opposite the block of flats I was staying in, Zoo Road, was what I called ‘Fura Café’ run in a kiosk. I dashed up there for a treat.

I was shocked. First, the fura balls were tiny. Like a baby’s fist. And white – not enough millet, obviously. Then, horror of horrors, he dropped three of them into a BLENDER! Would you believe it? A BLENDER! That’s the machine I saw my wife using to grind those ingredients used in making a soup! The worst was yet to come.

Next, he poured WATER into the blender. I could not stand it any longer, and I stopped him, asking for the kindirmo. ‘That was it. I just poured it into the blender,’ he saucily replied. Nothing like kindirmo – more like ‘tsala’ – watered down milk. He pressed buttons. Everything churned and chugged in the blender cup. He stopped, removed the cup, and then poured the lot into a PLASTIC cup – more like moɗa! I was speechless throughout this charade. I decided to see it through.

I asked for the ludayi. He gave me a look that clearly indicated he had never heard the word and passed on a PLASTIC spoon – y’know, the kind that comes with a cheap rice takeaway. I paid, took the cup, and had a sip. It was horrible. Sour. No pleasant flavour (garɗi) of a true kindirmo. Seeing the expression on my face, he offered cubes of sugar. I passed. I handed the entire sludge to him and left. That was the end of my first attempt at rekindling a memory.

Years later, after a five-year absence from Kano, I came back to see modernised Fura Cafes all over – Habib, Yusrah and the new kid on the block – Rufaidah. I was told some, e.g., Habib, had been around for a long time. Knowing I might regret it, decided to relive Birnin Kudu again. So, I popped into Rufaidah for a treat. Better than the horrid kiosk I had been to before. I was attracted by the post-modernist décor. Like the airport in Dubai.

Ahaf! The same Furakenstein monster was there. A blender, watery milk, lots of sugar, tiny chunks of unblended greyish fura, and a ‘dambu’ – moistly powdered fura as a spare. All are neatly packaged in a pretty container. It’s not as bad as what I had before, but it’s still a Furakenstein monster. Seems the Rufaidah Fura Café is the ultimate in the fura business. I am happy for them and impressed by their franchise. But for old codgers like me, even at our Fresh Young Dattijo (FYD) phase? Thanks, but no thanks. I can’t stand the monster – Furakenstein – that is the modern blender-churned fura, no matter how ‘ultra-modern’ their café is. Young people who throng the place, happily taking selfies, have no idea what they have missed in the generational journey.

Fura, as a meal, should be churned in massive chunks of kindirmo floes, the likes of which I am pretty sure can only be found in Birnin Kudu, Bulkachuwa and Danbatta. With huge dark grey fura balls providing high millet content. Spicy fura. Thick floes of yoghurt. No sugar. Not because you are on a health kick, but because it is almost a sacrilege to put sugar in such yoghourt.

So, to celebrate this culinary purity, I am sharing the third painting in my office of classic Fura da Nono and fresh butter lost heritage scene painted on a medium canvas by the brilliant Bashir Abbas of Kano Polytechnic. It reminds me of the idyllic, peaceful and wonderful Birnin Kudu, with its rolling hills, tema grass (still available?), and the now drying river.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Over 4,000 students from Kano State studying at the Federal University Dutse (FUD) in Jigawa State are facing a crisis as they are unable to afford the new tuition fees imposed by the university management. 

The National Association of Kano State Students (NAKSS) revealed that the tuition fee increment, which raised the fees from N30,000 to N40,000 to a minimum of N100,000, has left thousands of students in a precarious situation. 

During a peaceful protest at the university on Tuesday, affected students pleaded with the Kano State Government and their political representatives to help them pay their outstanding fees, allowing them to sit for the upcoming second-semester examination scheduled for next week. 

The students’ union government spokesperson, Ibrahim Yunusa, stated that since the announcement of the 200 per cent school fee increment in January, many students and their parents have been struggling to meet the financial demands. 

Yunusa commended the FUD management for permitting indigenous students to pay their fees in instalments, with N60,000 due in the first semester and the remaining N40,000 in the second semester. 

However, he highlighted that, despite this concession, more than 40 per cent of the students have not been able to pay the remaining balance, putting them at risk of being dismissed from the university. 

“We’ve been calling the attention of the Kano State government to come to our help and pay the school fees for us,” said Yunusa. 

He also noted that letters were sent to the Kano State government. Although they received a reply directing them to the office of the Commissioner for Higher Education, no further action has been taken. 

The deadline for registration is just six days away, and if the remaining fees are not paid, the affected students will automatically dismiss themselves from the school. 

The students’ plight has drawn attention to the larger issue of affordable education and the challenges faced by students from low-income families. 

Kano State Commissioner for Higher Education, Yusuf Kofar Mata, has not responded to calls and text messages seeking comments on the matter, leaving the students uncertain regarding their educational future.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ruled to sack Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and reinstate Yusuf Umar Datti of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as the rightful representative of the Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam Federal Constituency election in Kano State. 

The ruling was made by a three-man panel led by Justice Tunde Oyebamiji Awotoye, who stated that Datti’s appeal had merit and allowed it to proceed.

The panel criticized the tribunal’s decision to count the date of the appellant’s resignation on the day of his party primary, emphasizing that Section 77 of the Electoral Act was misapplied.

They clarified that the matter of membership within a political party is an internal affair, beyond the jurisdiction of the court. 

This ruling marks a significant victory for Yusuf Umar Datti and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, reaffirming the importance of fair electoral processes and adherence to legal procedures.

By Mansur Hassan, PhD

Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Executive Governor of Kano State, has recently shed light on the alleged misappropriation of funds by Nigerian governors, exposing lack of impactful policies.

Over the past eight years, Kano State witnessed a dearth of policies that benefit the less privileged directly. In contrast, the Kwankwasiyya administration, led by Abba Gida Gida, has swiftly demonstrated its prowess in governance within five months, particularly through transformative healthcare and educational ‘revolution’ spanning from primary to tertiary levels.

Under Kwankwasiyya’s leadership, there has been a significant focus on education, including sponsoring first-class graduates to foreign universities—an initiative emulated by other nations. The educational revolution initiated during the 1999-2003 and 2011-2015 periods has left an enduring mark, with numerous scholars benefiting from foreign scholarships.

However, the governors who presided over the state from 2015 to 2023 failed to implement any substantial policies for the state’s improvement. Criticism was leveled against the transformative programs introduced by H.E. Abba Kabir Yusuf, particularly after the mass wedding event known as “auren ‘yangata.” The sponsorship of 1001 first-class graduates further intensified opposition, with the former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, dismissing the program as useless.

This criticism seemingly stemmed from the program’s focus on underprivileged children, contrasting with Ganduje’s past sponsorship of his own children’s education abroad. The clash underscores a debate on priorities and equitable policies in Kano State.

Dr. Mansur Hassan is a Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics, Yusuf Maitama Sule University Kano