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Tag: Kano

  • WAEC deregisters 12 schools in Kano, Jigawa

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), has deregistered 12 schools in Kano and Jigawa states for their involvement in examination malpractice during the 2015/2016 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSSCE).

    WAEC Branch Comptroller for Kano/Jigawa zone Mr. Abayomi Zuberu, who made this known in Kano during the 65th anniversary of the body, said the schools were being punished for two years.

    According to him, 11 of the sanctioned schools were in Kano, while one was in Jigawa. He added that eight of them were private schools.

    He recalled that last year alone, 97 schools were given letters of serious warning, “due to complaints we received on their nefarious activities which encourage examination malpractice”.

    Zuberu added: “Examination malpractice has remained a source of distraction for WAEC with the spread of virulent rogue websites across the sub-region. The scourge of examination malpractice has persisted in all member-countries and the Council has continued to utilise every available means and opportunity to discourage die-hard perpetrators of the malaise.

    “We remain resolute on our stand to fight examination malpractice which has become a terrible menace. We are appealing to teachers and our students to stop examination malpractice.

    “Parents who encourage their children today to engage in examination fraud because they want them to be like others, are killing their tomorrow. We think we are helping them but in future, most of them will regret it.”

     

  • Kano to take delivery of N250m fertiliser plant in two weeks

    Kano to take delivery of N250m fertiliser plant in two weeks

    •  State Assembly orders N5b worth of fertiliser distribution

    The Kano State Governor, ‎Abdullahi Ganduje has said the state will take delivery of an integrated fertiliser blending plant in two weeks.

    Ganduje disclosed this on Tuesday during the inspection of the Presidential ‎Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) at the Kano State Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), Kano.
    The Governor said the initiative has reduced corruption in the system, created about 200 jobs and encouraged farmers to increase their productivity.
    “In this programme, the price is stable and is much better. Farmers already know the price. So the initiative is a good one and as a result, we are expecting a new line in the next two weeks.
    “The issue of subsidy was what killed fertiliser production in Nigeria. You sit down in the house instead of going to the farm,” he said. ‎
    Kano-Gov-Ganduje
    Governor Ganduje

    Earlier, President of Fertiliser Producer and Suppliers Association of Nigeria, Mr Thomas Etuh said KASCO was selected among the fertiliser blending company due to their capacity. 

    He disclosed that KASCO got about N20 billion worth of goods for the production of the input and are expected to make a return of N2 billion in six months.
    He discarded concerns that the fertiliser may be adulterated, adding that there are mechanisms, such as the whistle-blower line that afford farmers opportunity to call a relevant agency in case of any sharp practices.
    Differentiating between the ‎Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme and the presidential initiative, Etuh explained that while farmers can buy as much as the possible quantity of fertilisers, the GES scheme limited farmers to only two bags.
    In his remarks, KASCO Managing Director, Bala Inuwa said the facility was set up in 1981 by the World Bank ‎to blend fertiliser for the farmers and agro-dealers.
    He explained that the presidential initiative has created more jobs and raw materials for ‎the fertiliser processing plant. 
    According to him, the firm currently engages about 600 staffs, who are running on three shifts‎, adding that both off-takers and farmers are excited with the initiative.
    Inuwa, who lamented that prior to the programme, the firm was unable to meet up with farmers, demand ‎revealed that the State Assembly had ordered procurement of about 50, 000 Metric Tonnes of the input to be distributed to farmers.
    He said the state lawmakers instructed the ministry to release N5 billion for the implementation.
    ‎”In Kano state, we have about 44 local governments and there are 60 shops ready to sell the commodity. We load about 60 trailers daily and we are serious about improving our capacity,” he added.
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  • Teacher remanded over abduction, rape of teenage girl

    A Kano Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered that a 30-year-old teacher be remanded in prison over alleged abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl.

    The accused, Victor Kusi, of Badawa Quarters, Kano, is facing a two-count charge of abduction and rape.

    The Senior Magistrate, Hajiya Aisha Yahaya, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison, pending the advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

    Yahaya adjourned the case till March 14, for further mention.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Isyaku Alhassan, told the court that the accused kept the girl in his room for two days and raped her repeatedly.

    “The accused kept the victim for two days in his room and forcefully had unlawful sexual intercourse with her three times,’’ he said.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 272 and 283 of the Penal Code.

     

  • Dangote Foundation votes N200m for Kano hospital rehab

    In addition to building a N7 billion surgical and diagnostic centre (SDC) at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, the Dangote Foundation is renovating sections of the hospital at the cost of over N200m.

    The 900-bed capacity hospital, reputed for the highest number of in-patients in sub-Saharan Africa has been lacking facilities that may detract from the new SDC being built by the Foundation, hence the decision to carry out the construction and renovation of the auxiliary facilities.

    The chairman of the Foundation said he is committed to its timely completion.

    The Foundation handed over to the hospital management a renovated maternity ward, two ultra-modern maternity laboratories, upgraded water supply system Eclampsia ward, theatre and improved sanitary environment befitting of a specialist hospital.

    President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote who was represented by his daughter, Hajiya Fatima Dangote, explained that the provision of the health care facilities was in line with the focus of the Foundation to contribute to improved health care service delivery in Nigeria as well as nutrition on the African continent.

    He stated that his Foundation has the mandate to intervene in the critical areas such as health, education and human development which was why the Foundation has also embarked on some poverty alleviation programmes targeted at women at the grassroots.

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who was represented by his deputy, Hafis Abubakar expressed the state’s gratitude to Dangote Foundation for coming to the aid of the state in the task of provision of sound health care to the people of the state.

    He urged other public-spirited individual and organisations to rise up and partner with the state government efforts at making life more meaningful to the people saying government alone could not provide all that the people need.

    The Deputy Governor then called on the staff of the hospital to make judicious use of the facilities and maintain them like their personal property so that they can serve the people for a long time.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Kabiru Getso said the Murtala Mohammed Specialist hospital Kano, was established about 92 years ago and it is one of the biggest facilities in Africa; with the maternity ward alone recording no fewer than 2, 000 deliveries monthly.

    Head of Medical laboratory of the hospital, Magaji Minjibir said the intervention by Dangote Foundation was timely because the state of the hospital was appalling.

    He said the hospital’s laboratory has suffered congestion and the hospital is generally bedevilled with many infrastructural challenges.

    “At the chemical pathology, we had to wait for our equipment to cool down before we process results. The Histology department had to stop work temporarily. Our autoclave is about 15 years old and outdated. We have only one microscope and this cannot cater for our teaming patients while lab staff take turns to perform tests and this delay results especially for patients in emergency cases”.  Minjibir stated.

    The Matron in charge of Maternity ward, Hauwa Mansur Waziri, who also spoke on the pitiable situation of the hospital before the Dangote Foundation’s intervention, said the new facilities will go a long way in improving services and saving more lives.

    “There is no doubt that our staff will now be motivated by the conducive environment made possible by the Foundation. They can now perform their duties free of so many hazards. The wards now have bright light, functional tools, water and toilets. All these would enhance conditions of patients and help healing process”, she stated with excitement.

  • Mass wedding for 1,520 divorcees, widows in Kano 

    The Kano State government at the weekend conducted mass wedding for 1, 520 divorcees and widows at the Kano Central mosque.

    The wedding, sponsored by the government, was conducted simultaneously in the 44 council areas.

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who climaxed activities at the Government House Coronation Hall, reminded the couples that marriage requires endurance, perseverance, patience and understanding, adding that the mass wedding was to halt the rampant indiscriminate divorce cases.

    Commissioner for Information Mohammad Garba, who supervised the wedding in Bukure, said it was sponsored by the government to curtail the rising number of widows and divorces.

    Garba gave N20,000 each to representatives of the grooms as dowry and the government provided the couples with free furniture and other essential household items.

  • Kano holds prayer session for Buhari

    Kano holds prayer session for Buhari

    The Kano State Government on Wednesday organised a special prayer for quick recovery and safe return of President Muhammadu Buhari to the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among those that attended the prayer session were Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and his Deputy, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, as well as members of the State Executive Council.

    Others were, members of the State House of Assembly, Chairmen of the 44 local governments in the state and members of the Kano Emirate Council.

    Also in attendance were Islamic Scholars, including the Commander-General of the state Hisbah Board, Sheik Aminu Daurawa, Sheik Ahmed Sulaiman, Sheik Muhammad Nasir Adam and the Kano-based business mogul, Sheik Isiyaku Rabi’u.

    NAN reports that various verses from the Holy Qur’an were recited during the prayer session which was conducted at the Africa House, Government House.

    In his remarks, Sheik Aminu Daurawa said the President needed prayers not only for his speedy recovery, but also divine guidance to lead Nigeria to greatness.

    “He needs our encouragement, support and prayers for him to succeed and build a better Nigeria,” Daurawa said.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Alhaji Ali Baba, said the prayer was organised to invoke Allah’s protection and good health for the President.

    He said the prayer was also offered for the sustenance of peace and unity as well economic growth and prosperity of the country.(NAN).

  • Kano Police smash kidnapping gang

    Kano Police smash kidnapping gang

    The Police in Kano have squashed a syndicate that specialises in the kidnapping of adolescents in exchange for ransom, within Kano metropolis.
    Abubakar Umar, alias Kafi Giwa, a resident of Meyere quarters, Kaduna, and his girlfriend, one  Hafsat Auwal, 18 years –old a resident of Tsamiyar Boka, Kano, fell into the net of Kano state police command special anti-kidnapping squad for allegedly  specializing in the theft of children around, Hotoro, Kawo, Tisharma, Wala Lambe areas within, Kano metropolis.
    The suspects confessed committing the crime, disclosing that they were arrested, through a N100,000,000 trait, which was paid to them, as a ransom, for the release of an  8 year-old captive.
    According to the suspects, their last victim, Sadiq Mustapha was lured away from the residence of his parents in Yadodo Hotoro quarters, they proceeded to demand N1 million as ransom with a threat that, failure to comply with their demand, the child will be killed., they later settled for N100.000.00.
    The suspects further confessed that they once engaged in the kidnap of a child from a private secondary school located within Rijiyar Zaki quarters, Kano., adding that, the parents of the child parted with an undisclosed amount as ransom, facilitating the release of their victim.
    The spokesman, Nigeria Police Force, Kano command, DSP Magaji Musa Majiya confirmed the bursting of the kidnapping syndicate in the state.
    Majiya revealed that the command has been inundated with complaints over missing children, from residents of Hotoro, Tishama, Kawo and environs, noting that, the command swift into action, by deploying a special squad to the area to curb the menace.
    The swift response by the police under the supervision of the state commissioner of police Rabiu Yusuf led to the smashing of the syndicate, disclosing that, prosecutorial exhibits have been retrieved, stating that, on completion of investigation, the suspected kidnappers would be arraigned in court.

  • Kano to employ 2,000 re-trained teachers

    Kano State Government plans to inject 2,000 teachers who bagged the National Certificate in Education (NCE), under state sponsorship, into its primary and junior secondary schools.

    The Deputy Governor, Prof Hafiz Abubakar, made this known in Kano while addressing a press conference as part of activities to mark the state’s Basic Education Week, which theme is: “Education For all: A responsibility for all.”

    He said the 2,000 teachers would be drawn from the 25,000 unqualified teachers in the school system, who are undergoing NCE and Post-graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) programmes on state sponsorship.

    He said the teachers would graduate during the week-long programme.

    “On Day Three of the ceremony,   2000 in-service sponsored graduands of National Certificate of Education and Post-graduate Diploma in Education would graduate,” he said.

    Reiterating the administration’s commitment to basic education, Abubakar said the Abdullahi Umar Ganduje administration had spent over N1,251,533,819 on various projects to develop basic education in the 44 Local Government areas of the state.

    “Out of the aforementioned fund, the state government disbursed N10 million each to the Education Promotion Committees in the 44 Local Government areas to execute education projects,” he said.

    He said over N1.2 billion was part of the SUBEB/UBEC Marching Grant for 2015 education projects.

    He added that the government spent over N30 billion on teachers’ salaries in 2016.

    Abubakar said the programmes for the week included a meeting between Ganduje and 1,000 head teachers, 44 executives and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), permanent secretaries, and other stakeholders to discuss the challenges threatening education and the way forward.

    He also said Ganduje, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kabiru Rurum, would inspect ongoing projects across the state.

    “On Day Six of the ceremony, the Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will inspect the projects executed in Kano Central. I am going to inspect projects executed in Kano South, then the Speaker, Hon Kabiru Alasan Rurum will inspect the projects in Kano North,” he said.

     

  • DSS loses Kano State Director

    Alhaji Abdullahi Bello-Charanci, the Director, Department of State Services (DSS) in Kano State is dead.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Rabiu Yusuf, confirmed the death in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Kano.

    “It is confirmed that the state DSS Director is dead. We are now on our way to his home town, Charanchi, Katsina State,” Yusuf said.

    A family source had told NAN in Kano that the deceased died in the early hours of Saturday following a brief illness.

    The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said late Bello-Charanci died at the age of 56 leaving behind a wife and many children.

    “He was rushed to the hospital on Friday night but died in the early hours of today ( Saturday), “ the source said. (NAN)

  • Kano, Niger Republic sign MoU on twin colleges

    kano State government and Niger Republic have signed agreement that would recommit them to ensuring full implementation of Niger-Kano Bilingual Collage established in Niamey.

    A technical committee comprising representatives of the state and country met at Niamey where they came up with document that would see the institution succeed.

    Niger-Kano Bilingual Collage was established in 2013 to strengthen mutual relationships between the people of Kano and Niger.

    Signing the agreement on behalf of the Kano State government, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Prof Hafiz Abubakar said the agreement stressed the responsibilities of the two governments as well as measures to adopt in improving the institution.

    Hafiz, who is also the state deputy governor, explained that based on the agreement, Kano State takes responsibilitiy for constructing students hostel and staff quarters, while Niger Republic puts up classes, libraries and computer centers.

    Hafiz added that the state would provide the remaining 120 beds and mattress to fully equip the hostels, pointing out that the Governing Council has equally approved procedures to mobilise the contractors.

    “With these components, Kano State government has completed its own share of construction as expected at Bilingual Collage in Niamey,” he said.

    On the construction of Girls Bilingual Collage in Zinder, Hafiz said the responsibility lies on the government which he described as a demonstration of Ganduje administration to respect the agreement.

    In his remarks, Niger Republic Minister for Secondary Education Mohammed Sani Abdulrahman, said the establishment of the male and female institutions is the appropriate way for training youths to address the linguistics barriers between the regions.

    “The peaceful cooperation between Niger and Kano State on secondary education is in line with our dream, vision and aspirations to promote mutual relationships that had existed for long period,” he said.

    He praised the two governments for the commitment they exhibited through provision of conducive learning environment in the institution..

    Earlier, the Governor of Niamey Hamidu Garba Moumoduhad said:

    “The students will at the end of the day posses two nationalities-Niger and Nigeria and that is the right way for integration between the two nations,” he stressed.