The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has renovated Sallari Special Primary School in Babban Giji, underscoring its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and community development.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Abubakar Yusuf, Managing Director of KEDCO, emphasized the company’s belief that a nation’s strength lies in its education system. “Meaningful corporate success is measured not only by profit but by our impact on the communities we serve,” Yusuf said.

Yusuf dismissed the notion that KEDCO solely distributes electricity and collects revenue, noting that the company actively contributes to socio-economic development. “We complement the efforts of the Federal, State, and Local Governments in improving the lives of our host communities,” he stated.

Under its School Outreach Programme (SOP), KEDCO undertook various renovations, including the refurbishment of classrooms and a staff room to create a more conducive learning environment. The company also rehabilitated the school’s water system, ensuring access to clean drinking water for pupils and staff.

Kumbotso Local Govt Chairman presiding over the commissioning

As part of the initiative, KEDCO provided 135-seater chairs and tables to accommodate students, refurbished staff room furniture, and distributed exercise books to all pupils. “Every child deserves a dignified place to learn,” Yusuf remarked, adding that the gesture was a declaration of trust and a long-term investment in the community’s future.

Chairman of Kumbotso Local Government, Ahmad Muhammad Ibrahim Sekure, praised the initiative, highlighting the importance of education. “We must seek both Islamic and Western education to empower future generations,” Sekure said.

Inside the renovated classrooms

Sekure also disclosed that the local government had allocated ₦600 million for school renovations, reinforcing its commitment to improving educational infrastructure. “Investment in education is an investment in our future,” he asserted.

Yusuf reaffirmed KEDCO’s pledge to collaborate with government institutions, community leaders, and residents to foster initiatives that uplift and inspire. “Together, we must light up not only homes and streets but minds and futures,” he concluded.

The Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, in collaboration with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has organized a two-day sensitization workshop for political programme presenters and media commentators.

While delivering his opening remarks at the event, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, stated that the ministry organized the workshop to enlighten political programme presenters and media commentators in the state, with the aim of promoting decency in language.

The Commissioner emphasized that any reasonable and patriotic citizen of Kano State should not go on air to insult or defame others under the guise of political opposition.

Comrade Waiya further stated that the Kano State Government has no intention of suppressing political opposition, but is committed to ensuring that political discourse remains meaningful and free from insults or false accusations.

He noted that participants at the sensitization workshop were drawn from various political parties, in line with the government’s objective of promoting civility in political communication across the state.

Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar during the presentation

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Adamu Bala Muhammad, said the purpose of the training is to enhance the competence of political programme presenters and commentators, ensuring their content complies with regulations and deepens their understanding of NBC rules and guidelines. He added that this will foster peace and unity among the populace.

The Permanent Secretary urged participants to take full advantage of the training by acquiring new skills that will contribute to the growth of politics in both the state and the nation at large.

On the first day of the programme, the Chief Imam of Al-Furqan Jumu’ah Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, delivered a lecture on promoting decent speech and avoiding abusive language in the media from an Islamic perspective. Also, the Kano state Coordinator National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Malam Adamu Salisu, presented a paper titled “NBC Regulation of Political Programmes: The Kano State Experience.”

In a statement signed by Director Special Duties Sani Abba Yola says tomorrow marks the second and final day of the workshop, during which three papers will be presented by different resource persons. These presentations aim to further enlighten participants on various relevant and important topics related to political broadcasting and responsible media engagement.

As the world marked World Book Day on April 23, Fombina Imprints Limited, a publishing company, called on Nigerian youths and students to revive their interest in reading, stating that books still play a role in shaping minds and improving the country’s education system—despite the rise of digital media.

At a symposium in Kano themed “Crisis of Standards, Decline of Reading Culture, and the Challenges of Publishing in the Digital Era: The Place of Books in the Restoration and Transformation of Our Education Sector,” Malam Yunusa Zakaria Ya’u, Managing Consultant of Fombina Imprints, said the reading habit should not be allowed to disappear.

Represented by Mr. Isa Garba, Malam Ya’u said, “We must not allow the digital era to swallow the reading culture. Technology should be a bridge, not a barrier, to learning. Our youths must be guided to see that the phone in their hands is also a library, not just a source of entertainment.”

He added, “Books shape values, guide the conscience, and prepare young minds for leadership. This is why we deliberately chose to mark World Book Day with young people—to reconnect them with the written word.”

Malam Ya’u also supported a mixed approach to reading. “Both printed and digital books have a place in our learning journey. What matters is the quality of content. If we want a different Nigeria, we must cultivate minds through deep, reflective reading—whether on paper or screen.”

The event included panel discussions and a display by local bookshops. Speakers from publishing, academia, and literacy groups discussed the decline in reading and the need to support local publishing as part of efforts to address issues in the education system.

Panelists noted a lack of interest in reading among youths, pointing to reduced attention spans and increased screen use. They called for efforts by families, schools, and the government to make books more available and attractive.

Students from Kano schools who attended the event shared their reactions. “It reminded me of why I used to love reading. I’m now motivated to make time for books again,” said Fatima Sani, a secondary school student.

World Book Day was established by UNESCO in 1995 to encourage reading and highlight the importance of books in education and development.