News
BUK’s Best Student, Usman Gezawa Passed Away
I first know Usman during his days in Crescent Int’l School. He is handicapped and his mum drops him off every morning at Crescent with his wheelchair in the trunk (boot) of her car
By Abubakar Sadiq Dauda
I woke with the sad news of the death of Usman Gezawa, a level 400 student in the Faculty of Computer Science and IT, Bayero University Kano.
I first know Usman during his days at Crescent Int’l School. I use to catch a glimpse of him almost every morning when I drive my kid sister to school. I learnt that he has been physically challenged right from when he was a child as a result of a chronic disease called spinal muscular atrophy.
My admiration for Usman began when I was in my final year at the university, then he was in level 200. I was confiding with one of my friend that I pity the state and condition in which Usman finds himself in, my friend responded by telling me that Usman has a Grade Point Average of 5.00 in all the semesters he has passed through, making his CGPA to be 5.00 in his 4th semester to be specific. I was stunned and I was glad at the same time. I said to my friend, “let me pity myself for having a point lesser than his”, we laughed and proceeded to where we were heading to.
Back at home, I was marvelled with the news I heard about Usman in campus, I called my kid sister and ask her more about Usman, she told me how brilliant and gifted Usman was during their secondary school days, she told me he got all A’s in his WAEC. She added that he won all the academic prize awarded by the school during the graduation of his set. I was really overwhelmed with joy and tears of happiness rolled down my cheek while she was narrating everything she knows about Usman Gezawa. Indeed, His story was amazing and inspiring in soo many ways.
In one of a short clip that went viral last year, the deposed Emir of Kano, in the person of His Highness Muhammad Sunusi II, honoured him by walking to where he (Usman) was seated (on his wheelchair) to present the certificate of graduation (in the slate form), as it is done by Islamic schools.
Traditionally, when its a student turn to receive his slate, the student shall walk to where the Emir is seated, kneels and the Emir will award the slate (certificate) to him or her. When it was the turn of Usman to follow the same protocol, the Emir stood from his chair, walked to where Usman was seated (on his wheelchair) and presented him his slate of graduation. The chants of “Allahu Akbar” rented the air as the emir displayed an act of respect and honour to the handicapped, at that moment Gezawa was the recipient of such Grand Honour from a highly respected Emir in the country.
Indeed, what a life well lived by Usman Gezawa. Now that you have departed this world to meet with our Creator, may the Angels in heaven honour you, shield you and preserve your soul till we meet again in the hereafter. May Allah (SWT) grant you the highest rank of Jannah.
At this juncture, I will like to pass my sincere condolence to his mum, she motivated Usman by driving him to school in her car. Am sure she must be devastated by his death. My other condolence goes to his siblings for having to live without their ‘genius brother’ and to the people of Kano state. Indeed, Kano has lost an asset.
May Allah bestow his peace and mercy to Usman, our loved ones, and to all Muslim ummah.
assadiq.aldaud@gmail.com
News
Breaking: Former Secretary of Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, Ahmadu Kurfi Passes On at 93
A former secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, has passed away.
A family source, Jafar Yakubu, informed NIGERIAN TRACKER about the death of the pioneer secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, who supervised the 1979 general election.
Jafar Yakubu said Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi died at the age of 93 and his Janaza funeral prayers will take place by 2:30 PM at Kurfi in KATSINA state .
Dr. Amadu Kurfi, OFR, was born in 1931. He was a former chairman of the then Marketing Board, former Federal Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, and the first person to acquire a BSc degree in the whole of Katsina State, at University College London in 1957.
News
President Tinubu Sacks UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Registrar
The governing council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University has been dissolved by President Bola Tinubu.
The president dissolved the council and approved the removal of the institution’s vice-chancellor Bernard Odoh and the university registrar, Rosemary Nwokike.
A statement by Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy said the action by Tinubu follows allegations of procedural violations in the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.
He also said that the council led by Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe and including five other members—Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin was accused of bypassing due process to appoint an unqualified candidate, prompting federal intervention.
Onanuga said, “The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.
He added that following the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address the rivalry between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the institution.
“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process”, Onanuga added.
News
Boost for Nigeria’s Oil Production, As NNPC’s Utapate Crude Grade Hits Global Oil Market
In a major boost for Nigeria’s crude oil production, revenue generation and
economic growth efforts, the NNPC Ltd has officially unveiled its latest crude oil
grade, the Utapate crude oil blend, before the international crude oil market.
It would be recalled that in July, 2024, NNPC Ltd and its partner, the Sterling Oil
Exploration & Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) Ltd introduced the Utapate
crude oil blend, following the lifting of first cargo of 950,000 barrels which headed
for Spain.
During a ceremony held at the Argus European Crude Conference taking place in
London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday, the Managing Director, NNPC E & P
Limited (NEPL), Mr. Nicholas Foucart described the introduction of the Utapate
crude oil blend into the market as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s crude oil
export to the global energy market.
“Since we started producing the Utapate Field in May 2024, we have rapidly
ramped up production to 40,000 barrels per day (bpd) with minimum downtime.
So far, we have exported five cargoes, largely to Spain and the East Coast of the
United States; while two more additional cargoes have been secured for November
and December 2024, representing a significant boost to Nigeria’s crude oil export
to the global market,” Foucart told a packed audience of European crude oil
marketers.
He added that since its introduction into the global market, the Utapate crude oil
blend has enjoyed a positive response from the international crude oil market, due
to its highly attractive qualities.
Foucart said the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, fully operated by NEPL and Natural
Oilfield Services Ltd (NOSL), a subsidiary of SEEPCO Ltd, boasts a huge reserves of
330million barrels of crude oil reserves, 45 million barrels of condensate and 3.5 tcf
of gas.
“We have a number of ongoing projects to increase our production from the
current 40,000bopd to 50,000bopd by January 2025 and 60,000bopd to
65,000bopd by June 2025. Essentially, we are targeting opportunities to increase
production to 80,000bopd by the end of 2025,” Foucart added.He said the Utapate crude oil terminal is sustainable, affordable and fully compliant
with the rigorous environmental regulations and sustainability principles especially
those aimed at reducing carbon emissions and other ecological effects.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of NNPC Trading Ltd (NTL), Mr. Lawal Sade
said the pricing structure of the Utapate crude oil blend is similar to that of
Amenam crude as it is a light sweet crude which is highly sought after by refiners
across the world due to its low sulphur content, efficient yield of high-value
products, API gravity and other similarities.
He said in bringing the new crude oil blend to the global market, NNPC Ltd wanted
to optimise value for both its producers and counterparties across the globe.
He added to ensure predictability and sustainability of supply, the NNPC Trading
intends to run a term contract on the Utapate crude oil blend cargoes, principally
targeting off-takers from the European and the US East Coast refineries.
Produced from the Utapate field in OML 13 in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria, the
Utapate crude oil blend is similar to the Nembe crude oil grade. It has a low sulphur
content of 0.0655% and low carbon footprint due to flare gas elimination, fitting
perfectly into the required specification of major buyers in Europe.
The NNPC E&P Ltd and NOSL partnership is also committed to operating in a
manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and beneficial to the local
communities.
The Utapate field development plan, executed between 2013-2019 and approved in
October, included converting wells and facilities from swamp/marine to land-
based operations.
The plan involved a multi-rig drilling campaign for 40 wells and the development
of significant infrastructure such as production facilities, storage tank, a subsea
pipeline and an offshore loading platform to facilitate crude oil evacuation and
loading.
The entry of the Utapate crude oil blend into the market is coming barely a year
after the NNPC Ltd announced the launch of Nembe crude oil, produced by the
NNPC/Aiteo operated Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 Joint Venture (JV).
In a statement by Olufemi O Soneye Chief corporate communications officer NNPCL said the remarkable achievement signals the commitment of the NNPC Ltd to
increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production and growing its reserves through the
development of new assets.
Kano APC Youth Coalition, Nasir Ja’o’ji and Party Survival
Breaking: Former Secretary of Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, Ahmadu Kurfi Passes On at 93
President Tinubu Sacks UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Registrar
Boost for Nigeria’s Oil Production, As NNPC’s Utapate Crude Grade Hits Global Oil Market
Nasir Buba Expresses Dissatisfaction with AIG Zone One’s Conclusion Despite Submitting Over 1000 Pieces of Evidence
Exclusive: How Kano Govt. Withdraws Accreditation of 14 Journalists Covering Government House
Northern Power Outage: Kano Manufacturers Lose Over 100 Billion Naira, May Lay Off Workers
Government Declares Public Holiday
Kano Assembly Describes Power Outage to North as Economic Sabotage
Civil Society Situation Room Applauds KANSIEC for Peaceful Conduct of Elections
Kano APC Youth Coalition, Nasir Ja’o’ji and Party Survival
Breaking: Former Secretary of Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, Ahmadu Kurfi Passes On at 93
President Tinubu Sacks UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Registrar
Boost for Nigeria’s Oil Production, As NNPC’s Utapate Crude Grade Hits Global Oil Market
Nasir Buba Expresses Dissatisfaction with AIG Zone One’s Conclusion Despite Submitting Over 1000 Pieces of Evidence
Exclusive: How Kano Govt. Withdraws Accreditation of 14 Journalists Covering Government House
Northern Power Outage: Kano Manufacturers Lose Over 100 Billion Naira, May Lay Off Workers
Government Declares Public Holiday
Kano Assembly Describes Power Outage to North as Economic Sabotage
Civil Society Situation Room Applauds KANSIEC for Peaceful Conduct of Elections
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