The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kano

  • Women drive farming in Kano

    Women drive farming in Kano

    Something novel is happening in Kano. Jobs are not just created; nor are women merely among the employed. The refreshing thing is that women are deeply involved in trades in which men usually held sway. Now, for instance, they are raising fish, even producing some of the biggest catch the locals have ever seen. And the state economy is gradually picking up as a result. Yet, that is not all they do.

    When he assumed office in 2011. Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso said one of the things that would drive the economy was agriculture.

    Determined to achieve the goal, he selected a special team to be in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture. The ministry worked hard to achieve the governor’s goal by diversifying the agricultural sector and training residents in all manner of trades to make them be self-reliant. The ministry, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, established the Bagauda Fisheries Institute where residents will undergo training programmes.

    As a result of this effort to enhance the well-being of the people, Kwankwaso, in February, facilitated the training of 140 women, selected from the 19 northern states, in aquaculture at the Bagauda Fisheries Institute. Those women have remained very productive.

    Also in February, 24,400 trainees being the third batch of graduates from the same Aquaculture Fisheries and Training Institute Bagauda graduated, just as another 120 trainees from the MAGAGA Fisheries Skills Acquisition Training Centre, Gwarzo, also graduated at the instance of the state government. In all, the fishery institute at Bagauda has graduated 1,200 beneficiaries comprising men, women and youths.

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Kwankwaso said: “These trainings seem to have come at a most deserving moment, where problems that include serious malnutrition, hunger and diseases have been traced to consumption of insufficient protein as well as lack of balanced diet. These trainings are, no doubt, helping to overcome the effects of these afflictions.

    “In addition, our efforts are paying off tremendously because we are succeeding in taking our youths off the streets, giving our women and youths employment, creating and sustaining wealth in our state. The state government has continued to fund and support other training institutes of poultry, livestock, horticulture, irrigation and farm mechanisation respectively and they have so far graduated over 6,000 students. They have consequently provided thousands of direct and indirect jobs.”

    According to the governor, N60 million was expended on the training and employment of the 400 women as each of them received 10 bags of coppers fish feeds; two big plastic tanks; five sachets of aquacol;  five sachets of fish biotic; and 500 post-juvenile fish specimens produced by the institute.

    He further said N17 million was expended in the training and empowerment of 120 youths at the MAGAGA Fisheries Skill Acquisition Centre in Gwarzo and each of them were supported with 18 packets of assorted hooks; eight bundles of gill-net; 20 rolls of nylon twine of assorted sizes; two hanks of kuralon rope; 50 pieces of normal size cork foat; two sheets of flexible lead sinkers; 12 yards of cast-net material and one life jacket.

    “In our bid to develop agriculture, the state government has made multi-dimensional collaborative efforts with public and private institutions and organisations, notably the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Department for International Development (DFID), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Sasakawa Global 2000, Unity Bank Plc as well as Dangote Group of Companies,” Kwankwaso said, adding,  ”our commitment and determination in this drive towards the development and transformation of agriculture into a highly productive and sustainable venture with the aim of diversifying farmers’ incomes, promotion of value chain approach and eventual commercialisation of agriculture production.”

    In her remarks, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Baraka Sani noted that over the years, the production of commercial crops in Kano State has become veritable means of occupation to not only a large number of farmers including women and youth, but also to a teeming youth engaged in farming activities both during wet and dry seasons across the length and breadth of the state.

    She noted that the main impediment to their farming activities has always been lack of adequate support by past governments.

    Mrs Sani said: “It is in view of the above and in line with present administration’s policy of providing necessary impetus aimed at facilitating increased agricultural output and employment generation for its teeming youths, the state, under the leadership of Governor Kwankwaso, came up with a unique agricultural development programme tagged Kano Commercial Crops Development Initiative (KCCDI) in order to transform agriculture from subsistence level to a more viable commercial venture.

    “Under the programme, the state is divided into six zones for commercial crops production which include sesame, groundnuts, cotton, cassava, vegetables, rice, wheat, garlic, moringa and jetropha and agro-processing zone, mainly situated in the Kano metropolitan local governments respectively.

    “The crop selection for various local governments is based on comparative advantage with the aim of becoming competitive,” she noted, adding that the aim of the programme is to trigger a unique agricultural development which will transform agriculture into a highly productive and sustainable venture and ensure enhanced economic status of the farming communities in the state.

    She further noted that the programmes aimed at diversifying farmers’ incomes beyond the traditional subsistence agriculture to a commercially sustainable level all year round and to promote value addition in the selected crops in order to ensure optimum production and market linkages.

    According to her, Governor Kwankwaso has done tremendously well in creating job opportunities through agriculture, particularly, in the area of fish production by empowering both women and men so that they would be self-reliant and also able to impart the knowledge they have acquired to other people to make the state stable and viable in terms of economic and social development.

    Mrs Sani also said thousands of youths who before now had nothing doing are engaged through several agricultural programmes.

    “When you talk about how best to tackle the problem of insecurity, it is through job creation. It is said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Our youths today are engaged in various skill acquisition and training programmes. They have become useful to themselves, their families, relations and the society. We are proud of Governor Kwankwaso and we pray that God will bring someone that can build on his legacies,” she said.

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero praised Governor Kwankwaso for the positive revolution he is engendering in the agriculture sector. The Emir, who was represented by one of his sons and District Head of Dala, Aminu Ado Bayero (Sarkin Shakar Gida), further commended Governor Kwankwaso on his giant strides in empowering women and the youth. He urged other northern governors to emulate Kwankwaso’s style of leadership.

  • Sugarcane business booms in Kano

    Sugarcane traders in Kano are recording sales boom since the beginning of the season, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Some dealers confirmed the development to a NAN correspondent, who visited one of the sugarcane markets at Bachirawa, Ungogo Local Government Area.

    According to the traders, some customers come from the neighbouring states of Jigawa, Kaduna and Bauchi to purchase sugarcane in large quantities.

    Malam Muhammad Sani, the secretary of the sugarcane dealers in the area, said the market, one of the biggest in the state, was providing means of livelihood to hundreds of unemployed youths.

    “Though it is a seasonal business, the business is indeed a profitable venture because I make a living out of it,” Sani said.

    MrAminuBala, a dealer along Katsina Road, said he was selling between 10 and 20 bundles of sugarcane daily and that most of his customers came from within and outside the state.

    Malam Mansur Ali, another dealer in Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state, said between 15 and 20 trucks of sugarcane were offloaded in the market daily.

    According to him, a bundle of sugarcane of 50 pieces costs between N1,200 and N1,300, while a bundle of 35 pieces goes for N900.

    Ali said he made an average of N9,000 from sugarcane sales daily.

    “I was able to pay my children’s school fees and carter for my family from the proceeds of this seasonal venture,” he said

  • Fire guts Kano market

    Fire on Thursday night engulfed part of the famous Sabon Gari market in Kano.

    Goods worth millions of Naira were destroyed at the market along Bello road.

     

  • NBA inaugurates Ungongo branch in Kano

    NBA inaugurates Ungongo branch in Kano

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) last week in Kano inaugurated the leadership and officers of one of the newly created branches of the association, Ungogo branch in Kano State. The inauguration was performed by the General Secretary of the NBA, Mr. Emeka Obegolu, who represented NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN) at the event.

    The officers include: Salisu S. Danjide-Chairman; Juliana B. Saleh-Vice-Chairman; Mustapha Imam Secretary; Wada A. Wada-Asst secretary; Binta Tukur Abdullahi-Treasurer; Usman Abdullahi-Financial Secretary; Bashir Saleh-Public Relations Officer; Mutawakil Ishaq-Welfare Secretary and Idris Ibrahim Haruna-Nec Rep.

    The event was attended by the Second Vice-President of the NBA, Mr. Steve Abar, Dele Adesina (SAN), Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) Aliyu Umar (SAN) and Yunus U

     

  • Immigration recruitment: 7 injured in Kano

    Seven  youths sustained injuries during the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)  aptitude test on Saturday in Kano
    The incident which occurred at the Indoor sports hall of the Sani Abacha stadium involving  two females and five males during a stampede.
    The NIS had advertised openings for more than 3,000 vacancies for yet unemployed youths to sit for the aptitude test across states of the federation.
    The stampede occurred when thousands of the applicants were struggling to gain entrance into the main gate of the Indoor Sports Hall.
    A sudden surge however led to the injuries of the seven job seekers, an eyewitness at the venue said.
    However, unconfirmed reports told this reporter that three of the job seekers were feared dead.
    According to the Public Relations officer of the command in Kano, Mohammed Kanoma, no person died at the venue of the examination .
    “The only thing that happened was that two female and five male applicants sustained injuries during a stampede and were treated and allowed to sit for the exam.” Kanoma stated.
  • Controversy over corps member’s death in Kano

    Controversy over corps member’s death in Kano

    THE real cause of the death of 26-year-old Abbas Lawal, a youth corps member serving in Kano State, may continue to be shrouded in controversy for some time to come.

    While the general belief among his friends and colleagues is that Abbas lost his life to dreaded cholera, a representative of NYSC in the state maintained that the young man died during a brief but undisclosed illness.

    Abbas’ untimely death on February 13 marked the end of a long time dream and aspiration for a better future.

    According to sources, Abbas was rushed to the hospital by his friends after he excreted and vomited non-stop for a long time. But it was too late, as he later died at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Kano despite a strong battle by doctors to save his life.

    It will be recalled that The Nation had earlier reported that cases of cholera were on the rise in Kano.

    Abbas, an indigene of Kaduna, studied Computer Science at the Federal University of Technology, Minna. He was until his death observing his primary assignment at Government Girls’ College, Kano, where he served as the only computer instructor.

    According to his close friends, Abbas was hale and hearty a day before his death, and betrayed no sign that death might be lurking in the corner. But all that changed in the night when he allegedly complained of stomach ache.

    Sensing trouble, the friends rushed him to the hospital where doctors allegedly diagnosed cholera as the cause of his illness.

    “It was a surprise to all of us in the lodge. Although Abbas complained that he was not feeling fine that morning, but it did not look like anything serious. We all played and took photographs before we departed for the Federal Secretariat for the passing out ceremony. He told me that he had visited the toilet for more than seven times before day broke,” Mathias David, one of his roommates, said.

    He lamented that nurses at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, a government-owned hospital, gave Abbas the sugar and salt solution after he was rushed there at about 12.15pm.

    “We rushed Abbas to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital after he complained of stomach ache. But there was no doctor to attend to him, so the nurses only gave him the sugar and salt solution. He was later transferred to the IDH where he died in the evening,” David stated.

    The Nation further gathered that Abbas’ corpse was taken to Kaduna the same night he died as demanded by the father in company of two NYSC staff and six corps members.

    However, while most of his colleagues are blaming cholera for his death, the management of the National Youth Service Corps NYSC in Kano is insisting that Abbas Lawal died during a brief illness.

    When contacted, NYSC Coordinator in Kano State, Mr. Abdulrasheed Sanusi, told journalists that Abbas Lawal was one of the 37 corps members serving at Government Girls’ College.

    He said Abbas Lawal did not die of cholera or any infectious disease, noting that the deceased died of natural cause after a brief illness.

    When asked about the details of the medical report received from the hospital, the coordinator said he had not collected any report from the hospital.

    “The corps member in question was sick and taken to the hospital. The time was around noon on Thursday. Unfortunately, he died in the evening of the same day.

    “We don’t know the cause of death yet because we have not collected the medical report. However, we have informed the parents of his death, and his remains were taken to Kaduna as requested by the father.

    “The truth is that we could not collect the medical report because of the very busy activities of the day. And don’t forget that we cannot afford not to inform the parents of the death.”

    However, Abbas’ father, Malam Abbas Abubakar, said: “I have left everything to God. I was told my son died on Thursday evening and I asked them to bring his corpse to Kaduna that same night. The NYSC told me that he died of cholera. I believe it is time, and I have left everything to God,” Mallam Abubakar said.

    Also speaking, a very senior medical officer at the IDH, Kano, confirmed to The Nation that Abbas Lawal suffered from acute diarrhea and vomiting, which he said were symptoms of cholera.

    Before the unfortunate incident, Kano State Commissioner of Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, had stressed the need for the people to be extra-vigilant against the dreaded disease in the state.

    While giving the warning, which came against the backdrop of the outbreak of cholera in neighbouring states, Yusuf said that the government is doing its best to ensure the safety of its citizenry by providing potable water and regular sanitary activities in the state.

  • Nigeria to face South Africa in Kano

    Nigeria to face South Africa in Kano

    NIGERIA and South Africa will lock horns again in an international friendly game in Kano, according to reports coming out of the former apartheid state. A South African soccer website, soccerladuma.co.za, has reported that a group of Bafana Bafana legends will travel to Nigeria later in March, to try and settle some old scores as they take on the Super Eagles legends in Kano.

    An old rivalry exists between the two nations, with Nigeria often claiming that the South Africans would never have won the 1996 African Cup of Nations had their country been involved.

    Now, nearly two decades down the line, the two countries are hoping to put the matter to bed with a friendly legends game on March 30.

    Nigerian legends such as Jay Jay Okocha, Nkwankwo Kanu, Stephen Keshi and Daniel Amokachi are expected to turn out for the Super Eagles, while Doctor Khumalo, John Moeti, Eric Tinkler and

    Linda Buthelezi are planned to make the Bafana team.

    Meanwhile, younger players like Benni McCarthy, Quinton Fortune, Aaron Mokoena and MacBeth

    Sibaya are also earmarked to take part.

    South Africa’s full squad for the game will be announced on Thursday. The Nigeria Football

    Federation have not said anything about the encounter.

  • Reviving Dala Hill of Kano

    Reviving Dala Hill of Kano

    Kano is famous as the commercial nerve centre of the North. It also has some features excellent for tourism. Among these is the Dala Hill which stands about 518 metres above sea level and covers a land mass of 289, 892 metres.

    On the peak of the hill is a flat surface and is surrounded by rocky soil which protects the landscape from harsh weather conditions. One gets to the peak of the hill through ascending stairway which was constructed by guides to aid tourists.

    Ditches and other features of early settlements like potsherds, iron smelting slags, burial grounds and dye pits are some of the prominent characteristics of the hill’s base.

    Situated in the heart of Kano City, Dala Hill served as a viewing point for ancient Kano warriors who were always mindful of invading enemies. In the 7th Century, Dala Hill was a hunting site and gathering point for the iron-smelting community.

    At the end of the 15th Century and the beginning of the 16th Century, Kano was originally known as Dala, so named after the hill. There is no gainsaying the fact that Dala Hill is of immense historical significance as it was where the people of Kano settled. The Hill was the epitome of pre-Islamic traditional and cultural practices that characterised the centuries before the advent of Islam to Kano in the 15th Century.

    The hill was a major source of iron ore in the Kano region. Due to the presence of iron ore and the security it provided, craftsmen were fascinated about it. In the circumstances, therefore, the Dala community developed into a haven for mining, smelting and iron works.

    A visit to the hill revealed that the hill, which remains one of the significant landmarks for tourism in Kano, is in a shambles. The hill is suffering from serious encroachment, prominent among which is building of houses around the hill.

    The situation has further defaced the beautiful features of the hill. Refuse dumps have become outstanding trait of the hill. The flight of steps through which one ascends the hill is totally dilapidated.

    Cashing in on the unsightly situation, residents have begun to defecate at the base of the hill which is now a shadow of itself. Aside this, erosion is another phenomenon contributing to the wishy-washy state of the hill as it washes away its surface.

    Practically, the hill has disused electricity generating set house and a desolate administrative block as signs of having been in use. The fences are falling down and the hill, at present, serves as a hideout for criminals and hoodlums.

    Worried by the sorry state of the hill, a lecturer of History at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Sule Bello described Dala Hill as a total mess, even as he wondered why government has not done anything to revitalise it.

    According to him, Dala Hill, in those days, used to be attractive to various people for various reasons. Some people came to settle there in order to mine iron ore.  The miners then combine their businesses with local trade and these boosted economic activities within the community. Owing to this, Dala Hill became an attraction to many people from various parts of the world that migrated to and settled in Kano.

    “Gradually, Dala Hill became a settlement, market place and an industrial centre. The area became an industrial community as the number of iron ore miners increased. Some of them were mining iron ore, some were mining salt, while some were engaged in production of various kind of craft wood, leather, weaving, and some engaged in agricultural production.

    “The important thing about Kano is its cosmopolitan nature. The inhabitants comprise people from various professions who engaged in industrial and commercial activities.

    “There is also the Goron Dutse Hill, a twin to Dala Hill. It was around these two hills that people settled. In fact, in those days, people from this part of the world settled around hills.

    “For example, every hill you see around Kano must be a settlement for people in the early days. You have another hill around Panisau and Magwan. So, people settled there because of security and economic purposes.

    “The state of Dala Hill and Goron Dutse Hill in Kano is very important. The picture of the two hills is heavily engraved in the minds of the community because they have a lot of regard for them. You must be in Kano to sight Dala Hill.

    Travellers coming from afar will view the hill and might think they have reached Kano, not knowing that the journey is still far. Dala Hill is also very important for archaeological work.  The various historical features of Kano like the City Wall, the dyeing pit and the groundnut pyramid are all connected to Dala Hill which is the most densely-populated area of the city.

    “Most great businessmen in Kano live around Dala Hill. So, the Dala Hill is very important, that is why we are able to preserve it; and I think that is what the government is trying to do by providing facilities which can boost economic activities and promote tourism.

    “I am also aware that government is planning to develop the hill as a tourist resort and a research centre. There is also going to be a new design for the entire place by reconstructing the steps which will enable tourists to gain access to the top of the hill,” he said.

    Also speaking, a 55-year-old Malam Haruna Dankabosi who has lived near the hillside for the past 40 years said craftsmanship is a profession he inherited from his father which he has been practising in the past 40 years.

    According to him, the beautiful features of Dala Hill have gradually disappeared, even as he regretted that economic activities that were hallmarks of the hill are now in the trash can of history.

    “We in the profession are finding things very difficult as government turns deaf ear to our plight,” he said.

  • Eaglets wait on Kano to redeem promises

    Eaglets wait on Kano to redeem promises

    World Cup-winning Golden Eaglets are still waiting on the Kano State government to redeem the cash and house promises made to them two months ago.

    In December, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso promised the Eaglets various cash gifts as well as house gifts for Kano-born Musa Muhammed and Zaharadeen Bello.

    “We are yet to get the cash and the other gifts from the Kano State government many weeks after they hosted us in Kano,” a top team official informed MTNFootball.com.

    The Federal Government and several state governments like Niger and Cross River feted the Golden Eaglets after they won a record fourth U-17 World Cup in November.

  • Kano govt re-introduces boarding at primary school

    Kano govt re-introduces boarding at primary school

    Kano state government has re-introduced boarding at the primary school level, as part of measures to re-vitalise education at the grassroots.

    Kicking off the training of teachers at Shehu Minjibir Primary Boarding School at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the launch of e-learning programme for students of Governor’s College, Kano, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, disclosed that his administration decided to re-introduce the new measure because they do not only provide dynamic learning atmosphere but also offer ample opportunity for pupils to study, engage in extramural activities and build strong social interactions.

    He put the cost of the school at N300 million, adding that 140 pupils have so far been enrolled for the first batch.

    Further, Kwankwaso said two additional boarding schools would be opened at Rano and Dambatta, to have a public boarding primary school in each of the three senatorial districts in the state.

    He explained that the government agreed to name the boarding school after veteran teacher, Alhaji Shehu Minjibir, because of his contributions to the development of education in the state.

    On the mass teachers in-service degree programme, the governor said over 300 teachers would be supported to pursue degree and postgraduate programmes at NOUN, adding that more teachers would subsequently benefit from the scheme.

    Focusing on the e-learning centre at Governor’s College, Kwankwaso said N65 million was spent in transforming the project to a reality, pointing out that government intends to expand the programme to cover mega colleges and science secondary schools in the state.

    Replying, Alhaji Minjibir, who described the event as memorable, thanked the government for finding him worthy of the honour, Minjibir also donated 5000 copies of exercise books to the school.

    One of the pupils of the new school, Ado Ahmad, admitted that they are enjoying learning at the school due to the standard facilities put in place for feeding, electricity and water supply.