The Vice Chancellor of Bayero University Kano (BUK), Professor Haruna Musa, has commended the BUK Class of 1992 for its “uninterrupted 10-year tradition” of philanthropy.

Speaking at the group’s 33rd Anniversary dinner and 10th reunion, Professor Musa celebrated a fresh ₦5 million donation from the alumni to the university’s Indigent Students’ Account, noting that such partnerships are vital to the university’s strategic growth.

The Vice Chancellor outlined an ambitious vision to propel BUK into the top 500 universities globally. He highlighted the institution’s impressive trajectory in the 2026 World University Rankings by Times Higher Education, which ranked BUK as the 3rd best university in Nigeria and the premier university in Northern Nigeria.

To address operational challenges, Professor Musa announced significant advancements in infrastructure and energy independence. The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has commenced a 3.5-megawatt solar plant upgrade, with plans to scale capacity to six megawatts. Furthermore, in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, the university has secured a site for the construction of 500 housing units for staff.

The Vice Chancellor also reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy toward cultism and examination malpractice. He specifically flagged the misuse of ICT facilities as a new frontier for academic dishonesty and directed the university management to sensitize students on the ethical use of technology.

Innovative Student Welfare Initiatives
To bridge funding gaps for less privileged students, the university will officially launch a university-wide endowment fund in 2026 under the chairmanship of Professor Attahiru Jega. The University Senate has also adopted a resolution to grant automatic suspension of studies for students unable to afford registration fees, ensuring they do not drop out entirely. Students are encouraged to utilize the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and take up part-time campus jobs.

The Chairman of the BUK ’92 Forum, Muhammad Dahiru Sa’ad, highlighted that the forum has spent the last decade providing medical outreach to hospitals, supporting widows of late colleagues, and assisting former lecturers. He specifically noted that the group recently facilitated the return of several medical students who had been suspended due to unpaid fees.

Chairman Sa’ad also praised the Vice Chancellor for securing strategic MOUs, including a ₦60 million scholarship deal with OPay Digital Services and agricultural mechanization research partnerships with Chinese institutions.

The anniversary festivities concluded with a medical outreach at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and an awards ceremony where Professor Musa and other distinguished alumni were honoured for their contributions to the university’s development.

Honourees included leading academics, senior public officers, security personnel, corporate executives, and politicians. Among them were Prof. Amina Sani Mu’azu, Prof. M.A. Suwaid, Prof. Hajara Umar Sanda, Prof. Hannatu Sabo Hadejia, Prof. Baffa Adamu Gwaram, Engr. Ibrahim Sani Abdul, and Dr. Bello Lawal Dambatta.

Others recognised were CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, CP Ali Umar Fagge, CP Ibrahim Maikaba, CIS Hussain Ibrahim, Amb. Yakubu Abdullahi Ahmad, and Amb. Musa Sani Nuhu.

Additional recipients included Alh. Muhammad Aliyu Wudil, Alh. Rabi’u Musa Dambatta, Alh. Al‑Amin Ibrahim, Alh. Kabiru Yuguda, Alh. Nasiru Mu’azu Danmusa, Alh. Umar Sanda Kuso, Pastor Clement Oniwanye, and Yushau Shuaib Idiagbon.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed as false and misleading reports claiming it has released a timetable for the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the Commission clarified that it has not published any schedule of activities for the 2027 polls, contrary to information circulating on social media.

INEC emphasized that it operates in strict compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022. Under Section 28(1) of the Act, the Commission is required to issue a Notice of Election not earlier than 360 days before the appointed election date.

“Any timetable or schedule issued outside this statutory framework cannot emanate from INEC,” the statement affirmed.

The electoral body assured the public that the official timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections will be released in due course, in full accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Once approved, the timetable will be communicated through INEC’s official and verified channels.

The Commission urged the public and media to disregard the false reports and to rely only on its authorized platforms for accurate information.

As Court Fixes January 19 for Hearing of Case Filed by Dawakin Tofa Exco Against Former Chairman

The Kano State High Court has affirmed Hon. Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as the Acting State Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State.

In the ruling, the court also upheld the suspension of the former State Chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, and restrained him from interfering in the affairs of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The interim order followed a motion ex-parte dated December 30, 2025, filed by members of the NNPP from Gargari Ward, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, seeking the court’s intervention over the leadership crisis in the party.

Justice Zuwaira Yusuf of High Court No. 13, Miller Road, Kano, delivered the ruling in an interim order.

The applicants urged the court to uphold the disciplinary process that led to the suspension of Dungurawa by his ward executive over allegations of denigrating the office and person of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, creating division within the party, and failure to pay party dues.

The court further fixed January 19 for the hearing of the substantive case filed by the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Executive Committee of the NNPP against the former chairman.

In the suit marked KN/1218/2026, the court restrained Dungurawa from parading himself as the NNPP State Chairman or interfering with party affairs pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion.

The suit was instituted by Abdullahi Ali Uban Iya, Shuaibu Hassan, and Auwal Sani Abubakar.

Justice Yusuf also ordered that the suspension of the former chairman effected on December 30, 2025, be maintained, while directing that all court processes be duly served on the respondents.

The court further ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante as it existed after December 30, 2025, pending the determination of the case.

The court’s decision effectively maintains the status quo within the party leadership in Kano State until the determination of the case.

Meanwhile, the NNPP State Executive Committee has endorsed the emergence of Hon. Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as Acting State Chairman following the suspension of Hashimu Dungurawa.

The endorsement was made during an emergency meeting of the party’s state executive held at the NNPP secretariat in Kano.

The decision was announced by the party’s Assistant Legal Adviser, Barrister Yusuf Mukhtar, who said Abiya’s emergence was in line with the provisions of the NNPP Constitution with the State Hight has affirmed today by the experte order.