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Kano Governor Accuses Former Leadership Of YUMSUK Of Partisanship

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“During the past administration of Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano, (YUMSUK) the institution was so polarized and so politicized and the leadership of the University then, did not have the interest of the state at heart.

There was a time when we allocated One Hundred Million Naira (N100m) for the institution, but it took the leadership of the university 3 months to come forward and collect it.”

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano made the above lamentation, listing reasons why YUMSUK was unnecessarily slow in development, during the past administration of the university, before the advent of the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa.

Kano Seals Private Hospital for attending to severe COVID-19 cases

That was disclosed during a courtesy visit by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Kurawa and the management of the university, to Governor Ganduje amid State Executive Council meeting, held at Africa House, Government House, Kano, Wednesday.

“With the new Vice Chancellor in place”, he clearly stated that, “…business will not be as usual.” Which indicates the confidence the governor reposed in Prof. Kurawa and his style of leadership. After face lifting the State Polytechnic, when he (Kurawa) was the Rector.

“The past administration of the university was not interested in moving the university forward. An action which put the University at a disadvantaged position. It sometime took a complete year without any communication from the university authority to government.

How then could we be able to know what was militating against its progress, without any communication from the authority concerned? he asked rhetorically.

Governor Ganduje promised that, “We will try our best to complete the abandoned buildings of Faculty of Science and that of Arts and Humanities. Apart from this, our administration will look into your concern for having an effective and workable MBBS programme In Sha Allah.”

“On the issue of staffing, I assure you that we will look into that also. Since we really understand that, the new Vice Chancellor, Professor Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa has the university and the development of the state at heart,” he appreciated.

The nonchalant attitude of the past administration, according to the governor, in managing the affairs of the university, many benefits that were hitherto meant for the institution, were unnecessarily missed.

Lamenting further how, the then leadership of the university acted with no interest towards the development of the state, governor Ganduje said, “During the Convocation ceremony of the University, the then leadership invited the then Emir of Kano only, abandoning other newly created and backed by Law, First Class Emirs.

Which impliedly meant ignoring what the state did for the overall development of the state. What we were saying was, dont politicize academic environment. But when that happened, we now said, okay as politicians, who were also academics in the past, we said that could not happen before our eyes. We said it was impossible.”

He continued “We then invited all other 4 newly created First Class Emirs, who came to the Convocation. Their presence took the University by surprise and as a result, the Emir of Kano made a U-turn. Knowing fully that he wouldn’t have fertile ground to castigate federal and state governments.”

Governor further revealed that, he had an opportunity to contact Minister of Education, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and that of Tertiary Education Trust Fund( TETFUND), “…they all gave us their words about the possibility of establishing Federal Polytechnic in Kano state.”

He also reveals that, the proposed Yusuf Maitama Sule Centre For Research and Democracy would be under the university, adding that, “…we even requested the family of the late elder statesman, the late Danmasani of Kano, Yusuf Maitama Sule, to provide us with things that could give clear depiction of the late father.”

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor commended governor’s commitment in prompting education sector and his political will, at all times, in making sure that the state excel in the area of education, like other areas.

“During my days as the Rector of Kano State Polytechnic, which you appointed me Sir, Your Excellency, you did all that was necessary to push for the development of the institution. Many programmes got accredited, we got additional courses with full accreditation, new structures were put in place, the list goes on and on,” he commended.

Prof Kurawa appreciated that, it was the first time in Kano, when a serving Rector, was also appointed as a Vice Chancellor. “This shows your deeply rooted interest in pushing the state forward.”

In a statement by Abba Anwar the Governor’s Chief press secretary said , on behalf of the management of the university, commended the governor, also for displaying genuine interest in reshaping and refocusing the university, emphasising that, “We are all aware and confident that you will look into our requests for moving the university forward.”

 

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Frontfoot Media to host its 5th Media Audit Reporting workshop in Gombe

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By Asile Abel,Jos

FrontFoot Media Initiative has concluded plans to hold the fifth edition of its Audit Reporting Training programme for journalists to be hosted in Gombe State.

Statement by the Front Foot Media Initiative Training Coordinator Mr Chido Nwakanma said previous trainings were held in Benin, Awka, Abuja, and Lagos state.

He added that, FrontFoot Media Initiative will hold the training under the auspices of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism and the sponsorship of the MacArthur Foundation.

Mr Emeka Izeze, a director of FrontFoot Media, said “The Gombe programme will feature participants not only from Gombe but also from the neighbouring states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, and Taraba, a testament to the inclusivity and reach of Front Foot’s training initiatives. We look forward to training about 40 media personnel, each of whom plays a crucial role in our media landscape.”

Adding to the statement, Gombe State Governor, Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya would address participants in line with his agenda of openness and accountability.

Frontfoot Media Initiative also announced that Mr Ismaila Zakari, a past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, an Internal Auditor of Premium Pensions Abuja, and an ICAN Fellow, will lead the training supported by Mr Yusuf Doma, a Fellow of ICAN and Internal Auditor at Premium Pensions Abuja. Their expertise and guidance will ensure a high-quality learning experience for all participants.

The media and capacity building NGO described the programme as “a flagship capacity development programme of FrontFoot Media Initiative. It is a Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability project.

“In this effort, FrontFoot teams, accompanied by experts in the field, work in pre-selected states where they conduct free training for journalists. Participants learn how and where to locate the relevant reports, interpret the material, and write engaging news stories and features that enlighten, stimulate, and empower the electorate, and discourage impunity.” the statement added.

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Babangida’s Military Contemporary, Lt. General Garba Duba, Passes On at 82

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A military contemporary of Nigeria’s former military President, Lieutenant General Garba Duba, has died.

General Garba Duba died at the age of 82. A native of Kontagora, Niger State, Duba held several positions during his military career, including serving as Governor of Bauchi State in 1978 and as Governor of Sokoto State during Buhari’s regime.

An impeccable source told NIGERIAN TRACKER that the funeral prayer for the late Duba was held today, Friday, after Jumuat prayer at the National Mosque in Abuja.

Governor Muhammad Umar Bago of Niger State and legislators from the state attended the funeral prayer.

He joined the army as a Cadet Officer at the Nigerian Military Training College Zaria in 1962, presumably a course mate of Ibrahim Babangida. At the beginning of his career, he was at the Indian Military Academy. Duba was one of the northern officers who participated in the Nigerian counter-coup of 1966 which led to the death of General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi. During the Nigeria Civil War, he was a Captain, commanding a squadron of armored vehicles. As military governor of Bauchi state, he provided infrastructure in the form of residential accommodation and offices, including secretariats for the newly-created 16 local government areas.

In 1993, he retired from the military and went into private businesses where he held positions like chairman, New Nigerian Development Company (NNDC), chairman of SGI Nigeria Limited, director in First Bank of Nigeria, non-executive director of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc and chairman of the board of Leadway pension fund.

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ECOWAS Parliament to hold Second Extraordinary Session in Kano

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All arrangements have been concluded for the Second Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to be held in Kano, Nigeria.

The Second Extraordinary Session, according to the ECOWAS Parliament, will be held at the Bristol Hotel in Kano, the Commercial Centre of the country, between the 20th and 25th May, 2024.

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, attended the inaugural session of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament held on April 4, this year.

The Deputy President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Barau I Jibrin, emerged as the First Deputy Speaker of the assembly during the inauguration.

The event, according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, will attract parliamentarians from Nigeria, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote D’ Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Republic of Togo.

The ECOWAS Parliament, also known as the Community Parliament, is one of the institutions of the ECOWAS. It is the Assembly of Peoples of the Community, serving as a forum of dialogue, consultation and consensus for representatives of the people of West Africa to promote integration.

In a statement signed by special adviser to Senate President on Media and publicity Ismail Mudassir said the ECOWAS Parliament which was established under Articles 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS revised treaty of 1993, is composed of 115 seats.

 

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