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SON Trains 300 Perishable Farmers, Dealers On Good Agricultural Practice In Kano

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SON Training

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Standards Organisations of Nigeria (SON) has begun the training of over 300 perishable farmers and dealers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in Kano State.

 

 

 

Malam Faruk Salim, the Director-General of the organization, stated this at the inauguration of the training exercise on Wednesday in Kano.

 

 

 

 

 

Salim, represented by Mrs. Chinyere Egwuonwu, Director Standards in the organization, said the training exercise was a pilot scheme designed to expose participants on GAP for priority selected to produce in each state of the federation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He said that pepper, tomato and onions were selected as focus produce in Kano State, adding that the training would improve farmer enterprising skills, promote preservation and processing.

 

 

 

This, he said, would also encourage productivity,  enhance value addition and create a market for the produce.

 

 

 

 

 

“We are hopeful that at the end of the exercise, quality practices to add value to the entire tomato, onions, and pepper value chain would have been learned and our capacity to export these produce will be initiated,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

According to him, the program focuses on the tested and best ways in which farmers can achieve higher yields at harvest, ensure good processing, packaging, preservation, and transportation to the market.

 

 

Kano Anti-Graft Agency To Regulate Price Of Commodities

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Salim said the role of the organization was to support and promote quality in production, trade, export and import, agreements, contracts, and investments.

 

 

 

 

 

“It is imperative that we use national advantage in tomato and pepper production to achieve a significant rise in self-sufficiency and export.

 

 

 

 

 

“As we are all aware, trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was launched in Jan. 1, 2021, and serves as a major opportunity for export within Africa,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

According to him, AfCFTA standards and quality are key to successful export, saying that SON was well-positioned to support exporters with certifications of their products to validate compliance to the requirements of the standards permit to export.

 

 

 

 

 

In a remark, Malam Yunusa Muhammad,  Kano State Coordinator of SON, said that the workshop was also designed to increase the level of understanding of the participants with regard to quality requirements.

 

 

 

 

 

Muhammad said the essence of the program was to ensure that they get basic requirements needed from the farm to export.

 

 

 

 

 

“It will also enable the farmers to understand what is expected of them to produce that is of quality and safety as well as guide them on requirements to certify their produce.

 

 

 

 

 

“When farmers comply with the GAP, the issue of rejection of Nigerian goods by neighboring countries will reduce drastically,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

He urged the participants to use the knowledge acquired to boost their production capacities.

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier, Dr. Idowu Agida of the National Institute of Horticultural Research, Ibadan, said that tomato was one of the most widely grown perishable in the world and also an important source of vitamin A and C.

 

 

 

Agida said the potential benefits of GAP include increased productivity, quality, and yields.

 

She said that the training would impart a combination of appropriate agricultural techniques that would help the farmers to cultivate quality produce for export.

 

 

 

She, therefore, urged the participants to take advantage of the training exercise to build sustainable agriculture for the country.

 

 

 

One of the participants, Hussain Bala, thanked the organizers for the gesture and promised to share the knowledge acquired with others.

 

 

 

NIGERIAN TRACKER  reports that the participants were drawn from the 44 local government areas of the state.

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KEDCO Refutes Misleading Claims on Electricity Supply to Bayero University Kano

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Management of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has refuted recent reports alleging that staff and students of Bayero University Kano (BUK) are grappling with unstable electricity supply.

 

This is contained in a statement signed by Sani Bala Sani Head of corporate communications Kano electricity Distribution Company.

Sani said the claims are false, misleading, and do not reflect the current reality of power supply to the institution.

Sani Bala said KEDCO is compelled to address the outright falsehoods in the claims made by sources from the institution in a recent report published by Daily Trust Newspaper titled: ‘How BUK’s Solar Project Collapsed, 2 Years After Commissioning’, on Saturday, 13th December 2025.

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According to Sani Bayero University Kano is supplied with Band A electricity supply, connected via the 33kV Rice Field Feeder, with a guaranteed minimum of 21 hours of electricity supply daily, in line with regulatory provisions. Records from KEDCO’s network operations clearly show consistent and reliable power delivery to the university’s main campuses.

The Head said recently a high-level engagements were held between the Management of Bayero University Kano and KEDCO, during which both parties reached a mutual understanding on strategic energy efficiency and cost-reduction measures. Chief among these resolutions is the separation of electricity supply to the staff quarters from the main academic complex, a step aimed at improving load management, transparency, and operational efficiency.

In line with this agreement, metering process has already commenced in the university’s staff quarters, covering both the old and new campuses and said the initiative will ensure accurate energy measurement, promote responsible consumption, and enhance service sustainability.

Sani Bala pointed out that KEDCO remains committed to providing reliable, quality, and transparent electricity supply to all its customers, including tertiary institutions. We encourage stakeholders and the general public to seek clarification from verified sources and avoid the dissemination of unverified reports that may cause unnecessary concern.

The company further pledges to work closely with Bayero University Kano and othe critical institutions to support uninterrupted academic and administrative activities through efficient power supply solutions.

He added that KEDCO remain committed to enhancing service delivery through continuous improvement in power supply, leveraging investment in network expansion and upgrades.

 

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Press Week: NUJ National President Inaugurates Kano Online Media Chapel Office

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As part of activities marking the celebration of Press Week 2025, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Alhasan Yahaya, has inaugurated the Online Media Chapel office at the headquarters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kano Council.

Comrade Alhasan Yahaya, who was supported by the Chairman of the Kano Council of the NUJ, Comrade Suleiman Abdullahi Dederi, and the Chairman of the Kano Online Media Chapel, Comrade Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo, said the NUJ constitution, which was amended, co-opted online journalist practitioners into the NUJ. One of the key requirements for being a member of the NUJ Online Chapel is to have CAC registration, and one must be an editor or reporter of online media.

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Comrade Alhasan said that very soon the Nigeria Union of Journalists will come up with a scheme to ensure Nigerian journalists get insurance due to the hazards of the job.

Alhasan Yahaya added that private establishment practitioners will also benefit from the insurance scheme as they work hard to project the image of Nigeria.

On his part, the Kano State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, said the establishment of the Online Media Chapel was done with good intention.

He said that very soon the Government of Kano State will organize a retreat for online journalists in Kano, which will be held outside the state.

During the Press Week, awards were given to the Director General of Media and Communication to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, among others.

The executives of the Online Media Chapel were inaugurated on the 27th of April at the Kano NUJ Press Center, led by Comrade Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo.

 

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Jigawa State Government to Renovate Government College Birnin Kudu

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Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has pledged to renovate the old premier Government College, Birnin Kudu, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening legacy educational institutions in the state.

The governor made the pledge during the 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Birnin Kudu Old Boys Association (BIKOBA), held at the college premises. He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim.

According to the governor, priority attention is being given to long-established schools because of their historical significance and the calibre of leaders they have produced over the years. He noted that the history of Jigawa State cannot be adequately told without reference to Government College Birnin Kudu, given the role its alumni have played in the state’s development.

In his address, the National President of BIKOBA, Alh. (Dr.) Ja’afar Usman Muhammad (Turakin Gaya), highlighted the association’s sustained commitment to the growth of its alma mater, working in synergy with government and development partners. He commended the Jigawa State Government under Governor Namadi for allocating funds for the renovation of the school, describing the intervention as timely in view of prevailing economic challenges.

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Dr. Muhammad outlined BIKOBA’s interventions over the years, including support for water supply, desks and chairs, hostel facilities, laboratories, medical supplies, learning materials, and sporting equipment. He also acknowledged the contributions of partners such as the Dangote Foundation, Ganduje Foundation, Qatar International, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), as well as class chapters and individual members.

The BIKOBA president, however, drew attention to lingering infrastructural and administrative challenges facing the college, appealing for increased financial support to rehabilitate secretariats and address critical needs. These include the reconstruction of hostels gutted by fire, renovation of dilapidated classrooms and administrative blocks, upgrading of computer centres, staff quarters, the college mosque, and conference and dining halls. He also urged government authorities to investigate alleged lapses in admission practices and restore proper entry standards to safeguard the school’s academic quality.

Chairman of the occasion, Pharmacist Hashim Ubale Yusuf, called on individual members to continue supporting the alumni association, describing such commitment as a legacy and source of inspiration for younger generations.

Also speaking, a former President of BIKOBA, Colonel Umaru Malami, cautioned members to use their time judiciously to positively impact themselves and society. He described age as transient and urged adherence to values taught by Islam. Colonel Malami further called on governments at all levels to focus on people-centred policies capable of improving living standards, rather than making empty or unrealistic promises.

The AGM concluded with calls for collective responsibility in preserving the heritage and academic standards of Government College Birnin Kudu.

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