The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sokoto state government

  • Sokoto trains 500 women in various trades, provides starter kits, capital

    Sokoto trains 500 women in various trades, provides starter kits, capital

    The Sokoto State Government has graduated 500 women from its skills acquisition programme, equipping them with essential tools and startup capital to establish their businesses.

    The initiative aligns with the government’s 9-point Smart Agenda, which prioritizes youth and women empowerment for self-reliance and economic growth.

    The beneficiaries, drawn from all 23 local government areas, received training in trades such as tailoring, soap making, leatherworks, hairdressing, and food processing.

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto emphasized his administration’s commitment to job creation and economic empowerment. He noted that the initiative aims to curb unemployment, reduce idleness, and discourage restiveness among the youth.

    Read Also: Senate queries funding of MOFI with N150bat FMBN’s expense

    Governor Aliyu reiterated that each graduate would receive starter kits relevant to their trade. He described the programme as a vital driver of Sokoto’s economic agenda, pledging continued support for entrepreneurship and skills development to boost the local economy.

    “In line with our focus on that, we have procured and distributed 1,000 motorcycles and 500 tricycles to youths on hire purchase sales at subsidized rates”, he explained while stressing that the introduction of the existing poverty reduction intervention programs to promote self-reliance among women and youth is being sustained.

    He disclosed that other support  initiatives that would bring succour to vulnerable persons were underway to brace the desire for economic prosperity of the state.

    Earlier, Special Advisers to the State Governor on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reductions Barrister Sa’adatu Yunusa Muhammad commended the state government for the gesture, describing the initiative as a productive and profitable approach to encourage  self reliance among teeming youths in the state.

    However, thousands  of youths were since inception of the administration of governor Aliyu Sokoto trained in various trades under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Welfare and the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

  • Sokoto spends N3b on scholarship

    The Sokoto State government says it ?has paid over three billion Naira worth of scholarship to its students from 2015 to date.

    Executive Chairman of the state scholarship board, Altine Shehu Kajiji, said in a statement that beneficiaries of the tuition fees and upkeep allowance include students studying in USA, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Turkey, Sudan, Antigua, Bangladesh, India, Uganda, and Niger Republic.

    He said it also includes payments to more than 10,000 Sokoto students in public and private schools across Nigeria.

    “Most of the tuition fees payments are up to date especially for our students in Sudan and Niger Republic. Efforts have been intensified to make disbursements to students in places where we are not yet up to date in payments.

    “As announced by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal recently, arrangements are in place to send 200 students to India to study medicine and related fields.

    “Let me state on record that the scholarship Board is receiving all necessary support for the payment of tuition fees and allowances of our students despite the lean financial resources of the state,” he said.

    On Sokoto students at the Nigerian Law School, the Chairman said 37 law graduates of Sokoto origin received upkeep allowances to cover the duration of their stay in law schools in addition their tuition fees in 2016. Each student was also given a laptop.

  • Sokoto partners Kent Varsity on culture

    In its bid to further strengthen and consolidate its quest for standard and quality education ,Sokoto State government says it has set in motion machinery geared towards a bilateral partnership with Kent University, USA on academic and cultural exchange.

    The scope of the agreement will see to the exchange of students for traditional exchange programs as well as academic personnel for teaching and research.

    Spokesman of Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Malam Imam Imam, announced the development in a statement made available to The Nation.

    The governor said the agreement was signed by the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Muhammad Jabbi Kilgori and Dr. Linda Robertson of Kent University’s Gerald Read Centre for International and Intercultural Education.

    During a courtesy visit to Tambuwal at the Government House in Sokoto, Robertson said the agreement also involved organisation of joint seminars and conferences, hosting of faculty members from partner institutions, and development of joint research and publications.

    “It also involves development of specialised degree completion programs, accelerated attention for girls to girls’ education and teacher improvement activities,” she added.

    According to Robertson, her visit to Sokoto has afforded her the opportunity of assessing government’s commitment to turning around the fortune of the education sector in a state which has just declared a state of emergency in the education sector.

    “Your decision to declare a state of emergency in the education sector shows fully how committed you are to addressing the challenges facing the sector. I am happy that you have followed up on the declaration by implementing recommendations offered by professionals to help the sector improve,” Robertson said.”

    In his remarks, Tambuwal said Sokoto has a reputation for keeping to agreements, assuring that the MoU would be implemented to the letter.

    He praised Robertson for visiting Sokoto and interacting with stakeholders and youth organisations, saying the state is open for further agreements with interested entities to move all sectors forward.

  • Islmaic New Year: Sokoto declares Friday public holiday

    Islmaic New Year: Sokoto declares Friday public holiday

    …Urges prayer for nation, President Buhari

     

     

    Sokoto State Government has declared Friday September 22, 2017 as public holiday to commemorate the Islamic New Year 1439 AH.

    This is contained in a statement issued to journalists in Sokoto by Malam Imam Imam, the spokesman to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

    “The government enjoins the people to use the period of the holiday to pray for the nation and especially for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “This period of the Islamic New Year should remind all people of the countless favours bestowed on them by the Almighty God. As such, the people are enjoined to intensify prayers and engage in acts that will solidify the unity of the nation.

    “On a personal level, the government urges all Nigerians to show care, and to love one another. The recent tension in some parts of the country occasioned by activities of some youths should not deter us from caring for one another,” the statement added.

    While wishing all Nigerians, especially the Muslim faithful a happy and peaceful New Year, the statement assured the people of government’s determination to find lasting solutions to the challenges confronting the state.

    It equally urged the people to continue with their support for all government policies and programs.

  • Sokoto to ensure sustainable development

    Sokoto to ensure sustainable development

    The Sokoto State Government says it is committed to ensure a sustainable development of the urban and rural areas of the state.

    Aminu Tambuwal said this at a two-day stakeholders sensitisation workshop in the mining sector for the North West geo-political zone on Wednesday in Sokoto.

    Tambuwal, represented by Prof. Bashir Garba, Secretary to the State Government, said ” before the development of oil, we have been getting all resources from coal which is also a solid mineral”.

    “We tend to have abandoned the huge deposit of coal since the discovery of oil in the country; there are countries which still rely on solid minerals for their survival e.g Copper in Tunisia.

    “Solid minerals have been in utilisation than petrol; in other words, all states in the country should try and discover their own solid mineral.”

    The governor assured that the solid mineral developmental fund would support the stakeholders it it was well utilised.

    Hajia Hadiza Goni, Acting Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund, said that the development of the mining sector had been one of the key change priorities of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for economic diversification and growth.

    Goni explained that before the discovery of oil in commercial quantity in Nigeria, mining sector was the mainstay of the economy and one of the major sources of revenue generation.

    She said “unfortunately, in approximately 45 years decline of the country’s mining sector, we have been unable to articulate a framework upon which the sector would viably stand and operate.

    “As such, we have missed out on various opportunities to capitalise on the up-surging of commodity process.”

    Goni said that the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development had identified 45 different solid mineral types across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

  • Sokoto to immunize citizens against meningitis – Commissioner

    Sokoto State Government says plans have reached an advanced stage to immunize two million people against Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) across the 23 local government areas of the state.

     

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr Balarabe Kakale made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Friday.

     

    He said that the exercise would cover mostly persons between the ages of one to 30 years.

     

    “We have already received 20,000 doses of the type C strain of CSM from the Federal Government, out of the initial request of 800,000 doses we made.

     

    “We are expecting more consignments of the vaccines and we will soon commence the statewide vaccination.’’

     

    Kakale stated that the World Health Organisation (WHO) would train the vaccinators to ensure the exercise was error-free.

     

    “WHO provided the vaccines to the Federal Government, while the Federal Government distributed them to the states, including Sokoto State.

     

    “The organisation will therefore train the vaccinators for them to conduct the exercise in line with the risk assessment tools,’’ he said.

     

    The commissioner, however, noted that the meningitis epidemic had been brought under control across the state.

     

    Kakale further said that a referral centre had been established by the state government at the Murtala General Hospital, Sokoto.

     

    According to him, the centre is being manned jointly by medical personnel deployed by the state government and Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF).

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that MSF is an international Non Governmnetal Organisation (NGO), made up of Doctors without Border complementing the efforts of the state government in the medical sector.

    “ The state government has provided adequate drugs at the centre for the free treatment of patients.’’

     

    Kakale had a week ago put the death toll of deaths from CSM in the state at 41.

     

  • Osinbajo to visit Sokoto Thursday

    Osinbajo to visit Sokoto Thursday

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will pay an official visit to Sokoto on Thursday.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Sokoto by Imam Imam, Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal.

    It said, “while in the Seat of the Caliphate, the Acting President will take part in a two-day nationwide clinic organised for micro,small and medium enterprises (MSME), which is being hosted by the Sokoto State Government.

    “During the events, the Acting President will hold interactive sessions with government agencies, financial institutions, operators and stakeholders in the MSME’s sub-sector.”

    The statement added that Osinbajo would also inspect sample of works by small and medium scale enterpreneurs from across the federation.

    It added that the Acting President would pay homage to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad-Abubakar III, at his palace in Kanwuri, Sokoto.

  • Sokoto decries increasing incidence of street begging

    Sokoto decries increasing incidence of street begging

    The Sokoto State Government on Tuesday decried the increasing incidence of street begging in spite of many intervention schemes to assist the less-privileged members of the society.

    Alhaji Mani Katami, the State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, made this known in Sokoto on Tuesday that the preponderance of street begging was a concern to the state government.

    “It is highly regrettable that street beggars had virtually taken over major streets, road intersections, markets, private and public offices.

    “Unfortunately, the obnoxious act is being perpetrated by men, women, children and the aged.

    “This is happening in spite of various intervention schemes whereby indigent residents of the state are routinely being assisted at the ministry as well as the Zakkat and Endowment Committee.”

    Katami enumerated some of the intervention schemes to include the payment of N6,500 monthly allowance to each of the nearly 7,000 physically-challenged persons by the committee.

    Others, he noted, include the distribution of assorted drugs worth about N8million free as well as food items to indigent patients monthly.

    “The state government is also routinely assisting the indigent persons with money to rehabilitate their houses, marry off their sons and daughters and assistance to orphans as well as widows, among others.

    “But, we are now pondering on convening a meeting between the state and its neighbors, like Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina states to proffer plausible solutions to the menace.

    “This became imperative as majority of the street beggars were not from the state, with some of them even coming from the neighbouring Niger Republic,” Katami said.

  • Sokoto approves building of 160 new schools

    Sokoto approves building of 160 new schools

    Sokoto State Government says it has commenced the construction of no fewer than 160 new primary and secondary schools across the state.

    The Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, made the disclosure in Sokoto on Monday.

    Imam spoke in Sokoto at the opening a one-day Training of Field Officers for Pilot Survey on Schools’ Needs Assessment under the State of Emergency on Education in the state.

    He hinted that the schools consisted of 100 new primary schools, 45 new senior secondary schools and 15 new junior secondary schools.

    Imam added:  “If there is any sector that should be turned around, it should be the education sector. And this does not only lie with the teachers, but with us as citizens.”

    Speaking on the contribution the media can give to the success of the state of emergency declared in education sector in Sokoto, Imam noted that all stakeholders implementing the policy should involve the media for success to be achieved.

    In his remarks, Chairman of the Technical Committee on the State of Emergency in Education in the state, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, commended the state government for initiating the policy.

    Shehu, who is the immediate Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, also lamented that, over sixty per cent of teachers in the Basic and Secondary Schools were unqualified.

    In the same vein, more than half of the structures in those schools across the state were dilapidated, he added.

    “The declaration  of the emergency would therefore help drastically in redressing the ugly trend. The survey is targeted at collating a comprehensive needs assessment report on each of the 2,264 Primary, Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in the state.”

    The Commissioner, Basic and Secondary Schools, Dr. Jabbi Kilgori, stated that, the survey would come up with empirical, evidence-based data on the schools.

    This, Kilgori further noted, would provide for effective planning to revamp the state’s education sector.

    The Leader, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Garba Bello, who is also the Vice Chairman, House Committee on Education, pledged its support to ensure the success of the exercise.

    The Executive Secretary of the State Universal Education Board( SUBEB),Alhaji Faruku Shehu, expressed happiness that, the declaration of the state of emergency in education was already making huge positive impact.

    ”The emergency has started addressing some of the most formidable problems hitherto plaguing the education sector,” Shehu, added.

    In his remarks, Dr. Shadi Sabeh, Chairman, Schools Specific Needs and Assessment said that, the pilot survey would be conducted by 75 Enumerators and Supervisors in 40 model schools, within the next four days.

    He also added that, the social media platform would be used to track Supervisors and Enumerators, in order to ensure the collection of accurate data of the schools’ needs.

  • Hajj: Sokoto Govt subsidises pilgrims’ accommodation

    Hajj: Sokoto Govt subsidises pilgrims’ accommodation

    Sokoto State Government said on Thursday that it provided N200 million to subsidise pilgrims accommodation in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

    The Director-General of the State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Sokoto.

    He disclosed that the government provided One Thousand Saudi Riyals, approximately N40,000, to subsidise the accommodation of each pilgrim.

    He said that, the agency had rented befitting houses for the pilgrims near the Holy Mosque of Ka’aba.

    “This is very important as the proximity of the houses to the grand mosque will reduce travel hassles and offer the pilgrims more opportunity to intensify their acts of worship.”

    Umar stressed that the agency had made adequate arrangements to ensure the comfort, security and welfare of the pilgrims throughout the exercise.

    He commended the state government for its commitment towards the success of Hajj operation in the state.

    “Gov. Aminu Tambuwal has graciously approved all our requests for funds, to enable the Amirul Hajj committee and other subcommittees to function effectively.

    “I am therefore appealing to the officials to live above board, while the pilgrims should be law abiding at home and abroad.

    “They should also pray fervently for sustainable peace, unity and progress of Nigeria.”

    NAN reports that about 5000 people from the state are expected to perform the pilgrimage