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Teachers Day : Celebrating Quintessential Teacher Malam Yakubu Zakari Yakubu

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By Abdul Ahmad Burra

I was in primary three when Malam Yakubu Zakari Yakubu became our Form Master and teacher of all subjects. At that time myself and my classmates could only sing ABCD and other songs but within three months, we learnt what we couldn’t learn in three years. We learnt all the alphabets and their usage.

Within three month I could read and write. He used extraordinary teaching skills and disciplinary measures to ensure we learnt all the subjects.

Upon discovering my quick understanding of his teachings, Malam Yakubu made me Class Monitor and his favourite pupil.

Before we finished primary three I became lover of books because I could read. Every Friday, which was market day in Burra, I would go to book vendors to read cover pages of books. I begun to ask my father to buy books for me.

Malam Yakubu was a man of principle and discipline. He spared nobody when one came late or couldn’t give back what he taught. He didn’t spared his sisters and brothers, in fact he liked us more than many of them for our performance.

Malam Yakubu is a prince being from royal family of Burra but he don’t want anybody to identify him as member of the royal family.

An inter-classes quiz was to be held when we were in primary four. Malam Yakubu knowing our performance and brilliance said primary five were not our match therefore our quiz should be against primary six.

The quiz took place between us in primary four and primary six. We beat them squarely. We answered all the questions correctly except one by Uwa Danlami, she wanted to correct the answer but the timekeeper had ring the bell already.

After the quiz, an incident happened, on our way home, primary six pupil beat me and warned me not to tell Malam Yakubu. Out of fear of the seniors I didn’t tell him.

When he later became Headmaster, Burra Central Primary School completely changed for better. His principle and zero tolerance against indiscipline were extended to the teachers. Every teacher had to come early and had to teach accordingly. He had various punishment for truant pupils and defaulting teachers.

Bauchi Assembly To Re-Introduce Teachers Colleges

Punctuality by pupils and teachers became watchwords. CPS Burra became the public school Governor El-Rufai would love to have in Kaduna today.

We were in primary five when Malam Yakubu was transferred to Ningi LGEA as administrative staff.

Though we were small kids, we knew a gold was taken away from us. We cried profusely.

We accompanied him to his house crying and singing “Malam Yakubu muna maka fatan alkhairi sai wata rana”

He built a solid foundation for many of us in Burra. Our class till today has excelled in all spheres of life. Knowing the foundation he has led and the huge investment he made in our class, Malam Yakubu had to follow us to GSS Burra and organized evening classes for us when we were in SS1.

He would travel from Ningi to Burra, a 110 kilometres journey every weekend just to have extra lesson with us his former favourite primary pupils.

Many of us admired his principle and zero tolerance against indiscipline. We tried to copy him always.

In Ningi Local Education Authority he wanted to instill discipline and ensure quality of teachers. He wanted to ensure merit and reforms in teaching in our Local Government. Many teachers disliked because of his rigidity and principles.

Whenever the names of Governor El-Rufai and Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde are mentioned and their efforts to reform education is discussed, the next person that comes to my mind is Malam Yakubu because of their resemblance in principle and great passion for transformation of education irrespective of anybody’s resistance.

Probably for losing hope in transforming education at basic level in LEA and surely for his passion to impart knowledge, Malam Yakubu left his job at LEA and take up a temporary job at Bauchi State University Gadau. He became the examination officer of his Department.

But despite his contributions and efforts, his confirmation as permanent staff of the University, even on transfer of service basis wasn’t possible. The University didn’t confirm him citing his age as the reason.

Myself and my classmates will forever remain grateful to our teacher Malam Yakubu Zakari Zakari Yakubu who discovered, nurtured and inspired many of us and all our teachers who consolidate the foundation he has laid in us. May Allah reward him for his selfless service to his community.

Happy Teachers Day!

Abdul Ahmad Burra is the spokesperson to Speaker Bauchi State House Of Assembly,he also bagged his MSC in Mass Communications from the famous Bayero University Kano.

Features

Kano Water Scarcity: How Long is Governor Abba’s ‘State of Emergency’?

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_By Misbahu El-Hamza_

Kano State makes headlines almost every year, and coincidentally, during Ramadan for water scarcity. The frequent headlines are often attributed to electricity system failures, which disrupt water pumping, or equipment faults at water treatment plants, exacerbating the situation.

About ten months ago, upon taking office, Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf declared a State of Emergency to address water scarcity across the state, urging for patience and maximum cooperation from residents. Although I haven’t seen or reviewed the governor’s plan during this emergency, I recall that resolving Kano’s water issues was one of his campaign promises.

I remember when the governor inspected the Challawa Water Treatment Plant in May 2023 and expressed dissatisfaction with its condition. It was said that only two of the six pumping machines of the facility were functioning at the time.

Following that, the governor give a one-week ultimatum to the Kano State Water Board to submit its demands in order to end the water shortage in the state. There was a sigh of relief by the public. Personally, I had hoped that we’re finally getting over this hardship.

Unfortunately, nearly a year now, the situation is not only prevalent in urban areas but is even worse in rural communities. We are not only seeing those trending headlines of water scarcity in Kano, we’re experiencing the brunt of it.

Recently, the price of a 25-liter jerrican of borehole water in Kano surged by ₦50 to ₦150. Someone told me that he bought one at ₦200 around Kurmi market. In areas like Hotoro, Nassarawa LGA, where I reside near Kumbotso LGA housing the Challawa water plant, prices rose from ₦40 to ₦70 or higher. The Chalawa water plant is believed to have the capacity of supply the whole of Kano with water, but we rely heavily on individual boreholes for water, with little to no infrastructure connecting us to the water plant.

While I resides in a suburb and can afford buying a jerrican of what seems to be clean water, in the rural areas where I often visit for work, the situation is dire. Many communities lack access to clean water sources, with broken or dried-up boreholes and wells being common. Residents, including young children, often resort to fetching water from stagnant ponds shared with cows, donkeys, camels, and even dogs. This water is what they use for all daily activities, posing serious health risks. It’s evident that both state and local governments have neglected these communities, offering little to no solutions for their water woes. Where you see boreholes or wells in these communities, they are either constructed by individual donors or (charity) organizations and a handful ones by politicians.

Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf must be aware of the current water crisis in both rural and urban Kano. However, the pressing question remains: how long will his State of Emergency address the suffering caused by the persistent water scarcity or total lack of it across the state?

Three days ago, I heard a jingle apologizing for the water scarcity in Kano metropolitant, blaming the repair works at Challawa and Tamburawa treatment plants. It’s said to have been sponsored by Kano State Water Board. To me, the jingle suggests the governor partly fulfilled his pledge, now it’s the board’s turn to restore water supply. Or at least that’s my assumption.

I know this isn’t the first time the the board apologises. In 2022, the then Managing Director of the board was quoted apologizing to Kano residents for failing to supply water during Ramadan. At that time, 25-liters jerrican of borehole water cost between ₦30 – ₦100.

I remain hopeful that before his remaining three years expire, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf will emerge as Kano’s hero by addressing the water scarcity issue, providing relief to the growing population, including those in rural areas.

As the governor continues to address our water problem within this emergency period, I hope the demands the water board submitted to him as requested include: establishing new plants and resaviors or enhancing existing ones, extending mainline pipes to suburbs and rural areas, ensuring independent power supply for the plants, and securing permanent employment for existing and additional staff. If the board manages its expenses independently, perhaps shifting it to the state payroll would improve also efficiency.

With reliable service and effective system in place, the board and the state government should be rest assured that Kano people will be more willing to pay for water, and the board does not need to heavily depend for its revenue from the industries it diverts our little water to.

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Again, farming community in Kano counts losses as River Kura wreaks havoc

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Lawan Muhammad,Farmer

 

By A’isha Ahmad Isma’il

Flooding is a devastating term most farmers in Kano State are familiar with as it has plagued the state for years now, with unprecedented heavy rainfalls and floods wreaking havoc on communities and farmlands.

In 2022, flooding nationwide destroyed N700 billion worth of investment in the agricultural sector, according to the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS).

In Kano, flooding washed away 14,496 farms in five Local Government Areas (LGAswith everything planted in the soil. The recurrence of the flood has been linked to the spillway of Tiga Dam, according to the then Executive Secretary of Kano state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Aliyu Jili.

Jiji said that in 2022, spillage of the Tiga dam destroyed another 16,644 farmlands in some local governments, including Kura.

Although farmers tried using flood resistant enhanced crops, it is of no use to those in Kunshama, in Daneji ward of Kura LGA in Kano State.

Farmers say the powerful waves caused each time the Kura River overflows its banks after the opening of the Tiga Dam have been devastating. And it occurs twice a year, whether it is the rainy and dry season.

Malam Bala working on some part of his farm completely washed by flood

Malam Bala working on some part of his farm completely washed by flood

Opened in 1974, the 178 square kilometers (69 sq mi) dam with a maximum capacity of nearly 2,000,000 cubic meters (71,000,000 cu ft) has been a major source of water to irrigation farmers.

Bala Dare Kunshama, farmer

Bala Dare Kunshama, farmer

However, what was created as a blessing, to Kunshama farmers, is a curse.

The people of Kunshama farming community State are beginning to panic as water from the Kura River washes away millions of naira worth of produce from their farmlands.

Kura LGA is believed to be one of the largest farming communities in the state and this includes both irrigation and wet season farming.

Lawan Muhammed Kunsharma, a rice farmer, said he lost over N3.1 million after the Kura River washed away half his rice seedlings weeks ago, adding that he has been enduring such losses for the past five to six years because there has been no help from anywhere.

Gazing over his devastated farm, he said “as you can see this is my farm, if not for the fact that the water has washed over here, you could have seen that I have plowed the land and planted rice”.

Muhammad said he used to harvest between 200-300 bags of rice per farming season. But now, he barely harvests 20 bags.

Farmers in Jigawa State Appeal for Assistance as Quela Birds Ravage Crops

“That is for the rice, but before the rice we used to plant onions, beans, and green beans”, he said bitterly.

The reporter could feel the anguish and pain in his voice as he spoke.

“We wish the Abba Kabir Yusuf – led Kano government would urgently help us, ” he cried out.

Hadejia Jamaare

Hadejia Jamaare

Lawan Ishaq Kunshama, another farmer in the area, said the flood is the biggest problem faced by the people in Kunshama.

While acknowledging efforts by the local councilor and council chairman, he lamented that “the matter is beyond them.”

The water passes through Kunshama from Tiga Dam to Wudil.

One of the dams

One of the community’s dams

“You see over there? That is what is left of the structures we tried to erect to prevent the water from running into our farm.”

The farmer pointed to a low slab put at the edges of the river with the intent of keeping the waters away from flowing into the farms.

He said they have been trying for four years, but the slabs collapse every time.

Ishaq added that when the water breaks into the farmlands, they must board canoes to rush and salvage rice seedlings to minimize losses that usually run into millions.

“For some of us that usually harvest about 100 bags of rice, when the water breaks in, we barely get 20 bags,” he lamented.

Ishaq also cried out to the government to come to their aid to prevent losses to the farmers and even the government in the form of revenue. (Farmers from rural areas pay produce tax when they take their produce to the markets.)

Bala Dare Kunshama, is another big irrigation farmer affected by the Kura River overflow. He owns six acres of farmland, most of which has been washed off after overflowing water from Kura River flooded his farm.

Looking mournful and dejected, Dare said he suffered unimaginably heavy losses due to the flood.

He stands at the edge of his farm looking from side to side and then gapes deeply into the water that has become his nightmare, a thousand thoughts coursing through his mind.

“This water broke into my farm, all our capital has finished, the water has killed all our efforts and now we have nothing,” he bit down his frustration while narrating his loss.

Unlike Muhammad, Dare said he tried planting tomatoes and onions this irrigation season, but the water has washed away most of it, which he said is worth more than N2.5 million.

Like Muhammed and Ishaq, he and other farmers in the agrarian community of Kunshama have been suffering losses for about six years now. Every year, the devious cycle repeats itself and the farmers are helpless.

Kunshama said he can no longer feed himself and his family and that most people in the community are in tears, but they do not know what to do.

“This is not something we can deal with by ourselves, we need the state government’s help,” he said.

VILLAGE HEAD ECHOES CRY FOR HELP

The Village Head of Kushama, Alhaji Garba Aliyu, through a representative, Malam Murtala Shehu, bemoaned the huge flooding challenge faced by the farmers within his domain.

“We need help, my people need help,” he stated.

According to him, his people “are at the brink of losing everything to the water.”

There’s no one else to ask, fully knowing they have done all they could, but the water would not stop.

He and the farmers wished for the Kano State government to prioritize their problem and find a lasting solution soonest.

The farmers are hoping the government could repair the controls of the drain outlet and block the way that serves as a diversion for the water into their farms.

The flooding too challenging for local government – Chairman

Mustapha Abdullahi Rabi’u, the immediate past Kura Local Government Chairman whose tenure ended on Sunday, February 11, 2024 lamented that Dukawa ward has been left to suffer from the floods for years.

“They came to me with the complaint, I was personally there to see the level of destruction it causes,” he said over the phone.

He said the water travels from Tiga, goes through Madobi, spins forward through Gadar Ɗan kifi in Chiromawa, then falls at the bridge separating Kura and Dawakin Kudu before it makes it way to Kunshama.

According to him, he had paid money even from his personal pocket to workers to build a drainage along the waterway to prevent further spillage into farms “but the water is too powerful, especially during the rainy season.”

The area needs two things, he stated.

“First, the drainage systems there need constant clearing, and second the route of the water to Challawa needs to be cleared as well.”

Acknowledging that the very persistent problem is quite challenging, Rabi’u promised to ensure the next local government leadership is made aware of the problem to find lasting solutions to the problem.

80% of Kura/Garun Malam farmers face seasonal losses– Farmers Association

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano, through its Secretary, Abdullahi Ali Mai Biredi, affirmed that the flood has been causing losses to residents of Kura and Garun Malam local governments.

He said about 80% of the farmers in that area are affected by seasonal floods, and occasionally by the overflowing of the Kura River.

He said, “if this continues, it will be a threat to food security.”

“Everyone knows how important that area is in rice farming. If this problem persists , I believe it will not only affect food security in Kano but Nigeria as a whole,” he asserted.

Though he admitted that the challenge was brought to their attention late, he noted the need for urgent intervention by the government in addressing the matter in the interest of the nation.

Expert blames poor repair of drainage outlet for the flood

Professor Abba Garba Gaya, a lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technical, Wudil, is an expert that knows about the flooding caused by the Kura River.

He told this reporter that the flooding is caused by a fault in a drain outlet used to control the flow of the water after its release from Tiga dam, close to Kunshama.

“It (drain outlet) developed a fault, so the water is retained in the area making it look like a swamp, and it subsequently overflows into farms,” he said.

He noted that the water that flows from Tiga usually prevents farming activities, especially during the rainy season.

He noted that “farmers are important to the society” adding that “the government has to do something about this problem that has been in existence for about 5 to 6 years.”

He said they are aware of the efforts by the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority made about a year ago, but it has proven not to be enough.

He believes the work done was shoddy and not properly implemented.

Professor Gaya called on the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Kano State and the federal governments to look into ways of dealing with the problem before it worsens.

Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority blames residents for the floods

The Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority says it is aware of the problem.

When contacted, the authority’s spokesman, Salisu Baba Hamzat, said the area is the last part of their irrigation scheme.

“Our scheme went as far as Ɗanga, that is where it was terminated. But the people living around the area tampered with the scheme because it is at the tail end and water does not reach there before a recent repair we had.”

Hamzat added that the people took advantage of the work being done to vandalize it for personal gains, by removing the cements at the sides of the canals and slabs to use in their homes.

He accused the residents of using the large slabs for personal use, including bathing on them in their bathrooms.

“They caused this problem,” he concluded.

He said the vandalization of the canals made them almost disappear, thus aiding the water to overflow since it can no longer be contained.

The destroyed canals, he said, were created to take unused water by farms in its irrigation scheme back to the main river, and back to Tamburawa River to Ringim, Hadejia and Lake Chad.

He then advised residents of Kunshama to officially write to HJRBA and request the audience to discuss ways to permanently solve the problem.

KANO GOVERNMENT REACTS

Isma’il Garba Gwammaja, the Director Public Enlightenment, Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, said the ministry is not aware of the problem.

“I advise that they should write officially to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as soon as they do that, our assessment team would be there to assess the cause of the water.”

He said the assessment team would also check if the area was a water passage route or if something else went wrong, including if the water ways was blocked.

Gwammaja added that aside from being called by this reporter, his ministry is not aware of the problem. But he said action would be taken swiftly as soon as the community officially notifies the ministry.

“Our assessment team would give the relevant advice, and then decide how best to handle the situation,” he assured.

“This investigation is supported by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, under its Promoting Democratic Governance in Nigeria Project.”

 

 

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Features

My Encounter with Professor Nimah Modupe Abdulraheem

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*By AbdurRaheem Sa’ad Dembo*

There are encounters that are memorable and worthwhile; mine with Professor Nimah Modupe Abdulraheem was one. It was on 31st December, 2023 during the annual programme of Bayero University Kano Alumni Association, Ilorin Emirate chapter in Ilorin, where I eventually got to know her .I have heard her name on several occasions from friends who are also members of BUK Alumni but I never knew her by face or met her in person. She is currently the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of llorin.She is not just a professor but one with a rank like a General. She speaks fluently with ease and humility;one could not expect anything less from a professor of Law.

The event has began, all of a sudden Professor Modupe who was anchoring the programme asked me to come forward and recite Suratu-Wakeeha. I was astonished because I never prepared for it. I could remember the last time I read holy Quran publicly was in the 80s during one of the Maolud Nabiy at my family house, Isale Maliki in Ilorin.The Maolud was usually organized by my late father, Sheikh Sa’ad Imam Yero.May Allah bless his soul and grant him aljannah firdaus.

Similarly, when I was asked to receive my award, she specifically mentioned that I was the one that recited “Isaa wowo”(Suratu-Wakeeha) earlier. Sincerely it was not an ordinary day to me and it would remain as such.

What if she called me to the podium and I couldn’t recite Quran? -Ahuzu billahi, she probably decided to call me, because I was the one that was called to do the opening prayer at the event

I pray for my late parents every day but from that day I had to mount the frequency at which I pray for them. As parents don’t just send your children to Western schools only,teach them religion of Islam; because Islam is the connection between a believer and Allah.How does one connects with Allah? Certainly is through prayers, without knowing how to recite Quran;one cannot pray.

In conclusion, It is not an exaggeration if one opines that Professor Modupe is a lover of holy Quran and a firm believer in the miracle of the holy book; when I dig further into her family background I couldn’t get dismayed at all by her disposition. May Allah continue to bless her

abdurraheemsaaddembo@gmail.com

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