The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Katsina State

  • Katsina establishes nine pivotal teachers’ training centres – Commissioner

    Katsina establishes nine pivotal teachers’ training centres – Commissioner

    The Katsina State Government, has established nine pivotal teachers training centres  to provide  teachers with the required teaching qualification.

    Prof. Halimatu Idris, the State Commissioner for Education disclosed this at the closing ceremony of a two-day seminar for WAEC and NECO invigilators, on Examination malpractice on Saturday in Katsina.

    Idris, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Hajiya Rabi Barau, said that three centres were located in each of the three senatorial zones.

    He said that teachers were selected from different parts of the state to benefit from the training offered by the centres.

    The commissioner reiterated the state government’s commitment to boost the education sector and provide  teachers with the required teaching qualification.

    He also said that the government had embarked rehabilitation of both primary and secondary schools with the aim of providing conducive atmosphere for learning.

    “We have also trained over 800 teachers in modern techniques of teaching so as to increase their knowledge.

    The Representative of Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Lawal Bagiwa, lauded the State Government for  the return of Grade II Teachers Training in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government reintroduced  the Grade II Teacher training after intensive pressure from Emirs and Education stakeholders in the state.

  • Fadama III: KTSG to link 73 unemployed youths to financial institutions for loans

    Fadama III: KTSG to link 73 unemployed youths to financial institutions for loans

    The Katsina State Government will link the 73 unemployed graduates who did not benefit from the N24 million National Fadama III programme to financial institutions who will offer them suitable loan packages

    Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, the State Deputy Governor, gave the assurance during the closing ceremony of the two weeks training for the selected unemployed graduates by the National Fadama (III) Programme on Saturday in Katsina.

    To the 200 successful beneficiaries, Yakubu, who was represented by Alhaji Idris Tune, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, advised them to make judicious use of the funds.

    The National Fadama III Additional Financing programme has trained 293 unemployed graduates in the state in different agricultural enterprises.

    The various enterprises includes crop production, poultry production, livestock production, fish production and Agro-business.

    “For the 73 unemployed graduates that are not selected for the provision of grant by the National Fadama III programme, the state government will link them with financial institutions to offer them suitable loan package,’’ he said.

    “I wish to draw the attention of the beneficiaries that will scale through the final selection of the National Fadama to make use of the golden opportunity to utilise the funds and resources given to them judiciously .

    “The beneficiaries should strive to produce the commodities under their respective enterprises and should train other unemployed graduates in their farms as employees,” he said.

    He said that the Federal and State governments had designed policies and programmes aimed at addressing unemployment of graduates in the country.

    Earlier in his remarks, the Fadama III National Communication Officer, Mr Bashir Safana, called on the state government to come to the aid of those who were not selected for the provision of soft loan.

    Safana said that Katsina State Government stands to benefit immensely from the training given to the 273 unemployed graduates.

    Also, the Managing Director of the Katsina Agricultural and Rural Development Agency, Alhaji Ibrahim Musawa, said that the agency would forward a request to the state government to provide employment to those that did not get the grant.

    “The state government will employ them as extension workers, the state is badly in need of extension workers.

    “The state is facing shortage of extension workers as one extension worker now provide his service to over 1000 person which is wrong “he said.

    NAN reports that the National Fadama Programme had designed the graduate unemployed training scheme with the aim of providing entrepreneurial training skills to beneficiaries with the aim of getting jobs for them.

  • Daura E-Library committee commends Katsina

    Daura E-Library committee commends Katsina

    Alhaji Nafiu Lili, Chairman of the proposed e-library project in Daura has commended the Katsina State Government for donating a plot of land for the project.

    Lili who made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Daura on Monday, said the gesture was spectacular.

    The chairman explained that the e-library would be the first of its kind by any organisation in the state.

    He said that apart from the library, the project also comprised of a 200-seat capacity conference room, a research centre and mosque.

    Lili said that the main e-library would be stocked with computers and standard internet services to facilitate and encourage research and scholarship.

    The chairman said the library committee has 25 members of unquestionable integrity who secured the land in 2016 and were mandated to oversee the project.

    He said the recent claim by Bara’u Musa, the chairman of the steering committee of Karama mosque Daura that the plot of land for the library was secured by his committee was erroneous.

    Lili said that the committee was yet to start the project and would therefore require no donation for now from the general public, organizations or government.

    “Preparations to formally commence the project is in the pipeline and we will make formal announcement of our activities to the public,’’ the chairman said.

    When contacted, Musa described an interview he granted earlier in which he said his committee secured the land as an error which would not repeat itself.

  • Masari approves reconstitution of 12 boards in Katsina

    Masari approves reconstitution of 12 boards in Katsina

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has approved the reconstitution of boards of 12 parastatals agencies, the appointment of their chairmen and members.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa, made this known to newsmen on Thursday in Katsina.

    Inuwa said that the appointments were based on merits in recognition of the selfless services the appointees had rendered to the state.

    The secretary to the state government said that the appointments were with immediate effect.

    The reconstituted boards include: Water Board with Bello Mohammed as Chairman, Rural Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) has Salisu Ado as Chairman, while Dr Labaran Doro, was appointed as Chairman, Hospital Services Management Board.

    Others were Tanimu Garba, Chairman, College of Health Sciences; Idris Bahi, Chairman, Primary Healthcare Services Management Board and Hajiya Rabi’a Mohammed was appointed as the Chairperson, College of Nursing and Midwifery.

    Also, Mr Mudassiru Mati, would head the   Science and Technical Education Board; Ado Ladan, Agency for Mass Education, while Sirajo Mashi, would be in charge of Islamic Education Bureau.

    Inuwa said that Alhaji Junaidu Mamuda would head the Housing Authority while Lawal Garba was appointed as the Chairman of Transport Authority.

  • Katsina spends N6bn on flood control – Commissioner

    Katsina spends N6bn on flood control – Commissioner

    Katsina State Government has spent N6 billion on flood control projects in 2017, the state Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Abubakar Ilu, said in Katsina on Wednesday.

    Ilu made the disclosure at the opening of 2017 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme of Nigeria Institute of Town Planners.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the theme of this year’s programme is: ‘‘Enhancing the Livability of Formal Settlements.’’

    The commissioner explained that the fund was spent on the construction of drainage to prevent soil erosion, environmental degradation and flooding.

    Ilu further said that the government would review the Master Plans for Katsina, Daura and Funtua, with a view to upgrading informal settlements.

    He disclosed that the administration would soon roll out the electronic certification of land titles in line with international standard.

    In his remarks, National President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Mr Luka Achi, urged the planners to devise a scheme that would discourage rural-urban migration in the country.

    ‘‘Our rural areas should be made more lively, try to come up with measures that will assist to address issues like soil erosion and other forms of effects of climate change in rural areas,’’ he said.

    He expressed the hope that such policy would assist greatly in discouraging rural dwellers from migrating to urban centres.

    In his speech, Prof. Joy Ogbazi, the Chairman of the professional development programme, said that informal settlements present special problems in the planning and management of urban areas.

    ‘‘What they are, how they develop and proliferate, and the problems they engender are to be explored in this year’s programme,’’ she said.

  • APC Chieftain cautions party loyalists against unguarded utterances

    APC Chieftain cautions party loyalists against unguarded utterances

    Alhaji Maigoro Hukuma, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina state, has cautioned party loyalists to refrain from unguarded utterances and be steadfast in promoting the ideals of the party.

    Hukuma made the call on Tuesday in Malumfashi in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said that the APC-led administration at the national level had made achievements in enhancing national security, fighting corruption and employment generation.

    He said that agricultural support schemes, infrastructural developments, health and educational policies embarked by administration were geared at facilitating national growth.

    He added that rehabilitation of roads and railways being carried out by the government would enhance economic activities in the country.

    Hukuma urged the people to consider the slow phase of execution of some of these projects as government commitment to ensure transparent and quality services.

    Commenting on the APC-led administration in Katsina State, Hukuma said the quantity of fertilizer provided to farmers, tractors and others farm inputs supplied to farmers would help to boost agriculture.

    He said that the numbers of primary schools being rehabilitated by the government, coupled with the rehabilitation of three general hospitals in the state was an indication of the commitment of the government to improve the wellbeing of the people.

    He appealed to Gov. Aminu Masari to reconstruct the 54 kilometres Mamumfashi-Dankaniba road abandoned by previous administration.

    He said that the road linked more than 20 communities in Katsina and Kano states.

  • Katsina to convene stakeholders’ summit on way forward for LGCs – Masari

    Katsina to convene stakeholders’ summit on way forward for LGCs – Masari

    Katsina State Government has concluded arrangements to convene stakeholders summit to discuss way forward for local government councils in the state.

    Gov. Aminu Masari made the announcement on Monday in Katsina when the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, paid him the traditional ‘Sallah Homage’ known as ‘’Hawan-bariki.’’

    He said that the summit is billed for July this year.

    He added that during the summit, the government would provide financial details of funds accruing to local government councils to enable the stakeholders find out way forward to enable those in the helm of affairs  in the local councils meet their obligations to the people.

    The governor said that during the summit, the stakeholders would fix a date for the conduct of councils’ elections.

    Masari, who decried the decrease in the allocation from the federation account to local councils, noted that ‘’only few local councils could afford to pay salaries from their monthly allocation.’’

    He said that the 34 local government councils in the state receive N3.9 billion as their monthly allocation.

    “On monthly basis, the state government assist the councils with funds to enable them pay workers’ salaries alone,’’ he said.

    Masari announced that after the conduct of local government elections, the government would stop deducting grants for the emirate councils from the allocation of local councils to “enable them meet up their financial obligations.’’

    He said that the emirate councils would receive their grants from the state government.

    In his remarks, the Emir, urged people to continue to live in peace with one another and desist from using social media to post negative threats.

    He also urged the state government to revive Teacher Training Colleges to enhance primary education.

  • Katsina begins spray of chemicals against armyworms on farms

    Katsina begins spray of chemicals against armyworms on farms

    The Katsina State Government, has begun the spraying of chemicals on armyworms in Dandume Local Government Area to curtail its spread to other parts of the state.

    Dr Abba Abdullahi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, made this disclosure while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Katsina.

    “Armyworms came from Ethiopia to Nigeria through Benin Republic; Our extension workers confirmed to us that armyworms invaded farmlands in Dandume Local Government.

    “These insects are devastating, they travel 100 kilometers by night and when they invade a farm, they can destroy it within 48 hours,’’ Abdullahi said.

    He said that armyworms mostly destroyed maize when they attacked a farm.

    Abdullahi said that the government had purchased chemicals to spray the affected areas.

    “We have started spraying chemicals on these insects and if the need arises, we will request for the Federal Government intervention in that regard,” he said.

    Abdullahi urged farmers to report any invasion of insects and pests in their farms for prompt action.

  • One million pupils to enjoy FG’s schools’ feeding in Katsina State – Official

    One million pupils to enjoy FG’s schools’ feeding in Katsina State – Official

    Over 1 million primary school pupils in Katsina State would benefit from the Federal Government’s Schools’ Feeding programme, an official has said.

    Hajiya Binta Abba, the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari on Girl-child Education and Child Development, disclosed this on Sunday in Katsina at the opening ceremony of a one-day workshop on the feeding programme.

    She said that the training was organised for local governments Unit Heads of Nutrition, Environmental Sanitation, Health Educators, and Education Secretaries of the 34 Local Education Authorities in the state.

    The governor’s aide explained that the programme was designed to provide free meals for pupils of public schools from Class One to Class Three in the state.

    She explained that the gesture was capable of assisting in increasing pupils’ enrolment in schools in the state.

    Abba, therefore, urged participants to understand what the programme entails and work diligently for the attainment of the desired goal.

    In his remarks, Alhaji Mouktar Lugga, a programme consultant, commended the state government for supporting the Federal Government’s programmes designed to improve the living condition of the citizens.

  • Katsina to establish dry meat market for export

    Katsina to establish dry meat market for export

    The Katsina State Government, on Wednesday, said it would soon establish a dry meat modern market in Batagarawa Local Government Area for domestic and export purposes.

    Gov. Aminu Masari made this disclosure in Katsina when the Batagarawa Development Association, paid him a courtesy visit.

    The governor said that the market would be sited at Kayoki village.

    Masari said the state’s Directorate of Economic Empowerment and NAFDAC, would work on how to package the dry meat in hygienic condition.

    The governor said that the aim of the initiative was to boost economic activities and revenue base of the state.

    He urged all dry meat sellers’ associations to liaise with the relevant government agencies to fast track the plan.

    The chairman of the association, Alhaji Muhammad Mujitaba, said the association, which was established more than 10 years ago, had empowered 116 women in Batagarawa council area.

    Mujitaba said the group had also distributed textbooks to various secondary schools in the area to enhance teaching and learning.