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Arewa Radio Sets Record For Highest Blood Donation Drive

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On Saturday, June 25th, 2023 a top indigenous media organization, Arewa Radio set a record for the biggest Blood Donation Drive in Kano State to support sickle cell patients across the state and beyond, which was in commemoration of the World Sickle Cell Awareness Day 2023 as well as the World Blood Donor Donor Day 2023.

The Blood Donor Clinic of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital was filled to the brim from morning through evening as residents from within and outside the state came through to support those in dire need of blood, especially the Sickle Cell warriors.

At the end of the one day drive, close to 500 pints of blood were donated for this noble cause, the highest ever recorded in the history of blood donation drives in Kano, despite the high burden of the disorder in the state.

The Blood Donation Drive generated interests from as far as Katsina and even Niger Republic. A Bakori based farmer in Katsina State said he had to suspend everything to come down to Kano specifically for the cause, following the awareness campaigns that flooded Arewa Radio for the whole week.

Nigeria is said to have the highest burden of Sickle Cell Disorder in the continent and by extension, the whole world. With an annual infant death of about 150,000 representing more than eight percent (8%) of infant mortality in the country, Nigeria is regarded as the top sickle cell endemic country in Africa.

The blood donation drive

The blood donation drive

About 50 million people are living with sickle cell disease globally and Nigeria has about 4-6 million people living with the disease and annually about 300,000 newly diagnosed sickle cell children are born worldwide.

In addition, at least 100,000 babies die from the disorder in Nigeria every year according to 2014 statistics by the World Health Organisation (WHO), making it the number one sickle-cell endemic country in Africa.

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Blood transfusion is one of the most important routines of managing sickle cell patients, especially during crisis. However, the acute shortage of blood in health facilities across the country has been posing a lot of threats to those living with the disorder and Kano State is not an exception.

Myths and lack of awareness have been attributed to the inadequacy of voluntary blood donors, the most reliable way to address the shortage of blood in our hospitals.

Part of the donation drive

Part of the donation drive

These facts were the highlights of what motivated the Kano based radio station to explore mechanisms of solution journalism to promote engagement of stakeholders in this regard by first initiating a weeklong sensitization campaign against sickle cell and the importance of blood donation, not only to the receiver but the donor as well.

The campaign in collaboration with top civil society organizations like the Sickle Cell Trust Fund, the Sickle Cell Community, Sickle Cell Club, the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Danmaliki Pharmaceuticals and Gen. Ent. Ltd, Red Cross, Novomed Pharmacy, REACH PROGRAM and other philanthropists, held several live discussion shows, featuring medical experts, patients suffering from the disorder and their care givers.

In separate interviews, presidents of the Sickle Cell Community and that of the Sickle Cell Club in Kano, Rukayyah Kamal Ibrahim and Aminu Sabitu respectively, expressed gratitude over the massive turnout, describing it as the biggest ever recorded from the inception of their associations till date.

Speaking shortly after the program, Binta Abdullahi Fulani, a broadcaster who doubles as the Corporate Liaison Officer for Arewa Radio explains that the success of the event had buttressed the point that as a powerful tool, the radio had gone beyond the conventional broadcasting and should be able to touch lives in a more direct approach, calling on other media organizations to follow suit.

“With the help and support of our partners, we were able to set a new record of close to 500 pints of blood donation for our sickle cell warriors, and this is just the beginning as we are open to more collaboration to sustain this milestone”.

She added that, “one of the biggest challenges of blood donation asides the poor level of awareness is the high cost of blood bags, as the country relies on imports from foreign countries”.

Mrs. Fulani, who spoke on behalf of the management of Arewa Radio and the other partners, gave a breakdown of the sharing formula for the donated blood, where 110 pints of blood will be allocated to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, while Mohammadu Wase Teaching Hospital (Nasarawa), Murtala Specialist Hospital and Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital were allotted 100 pints of the donated blood each and Dala Orthopedic Hospital will receive 25 pints.

According to the media organization, the donation is set to begin on Monday June, 26th 2023, adding that the receiving hospitals will be expected to conduct the screenings and testes as well as provide the results, which will later be distributed to the donors in due course.

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Court Restrains Anti-Corruption Commission, Others from interfering in MAAUN’s Affairs

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A Kano High Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and four other parties from interfering in the internal and external affairs of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (AAUN), Kano.

Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji of the High court of Kano Judicial Division issued the order, while ruling on a motion of ex parte filed by the management of the university.

The respondents in the suit are the Kano State Government, PCACC, Kano State House of Assembly and the state’s Attorney-General and concerned parents of the institution.

Justice Ma’aji in the court order dated December 11, 2025, restrained the respondents or any other person acting on their behalf from inviting officials of the institution or interfering in the administrative and academic activities of the intuition, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

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The court also directed all the parties to maintain status quo in relation to the matter between the applicant and the first respondent, pending the determination of the originating summons.

Speaking after the ruling, MAAUN’s counsel Zahraddeen M. Bello, said that the court’s decision reaffirmed the rule of law and the need for due process, saying the university will continue to operate within the confines of law, while the case is pending.

However, the court granted leave to the applicant to serve court processes on the fifth respondent at its office located at No. 224 Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Kano.

The matter was adjourned to December 29, 2025 and the order was given under the hand and seal of the presiding judge and was duly endorsed by the Principal Registrar of the court.

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Jigawa Trains Local Government Chairmen on 2025 Tax Reform Act

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The Jigawa Joint Task Committee has commenced a two-day capacity-building training for local government chairmen and policymakers. The two-day capacity program focused on the new Nigeria Tax Reform Act (NTA) 2025, which is scheduled to take effect nationwide on January 1, 2026.

The training gathered a contingent of state and local revenue stakeholders, including all 27 local government chairmen of Jigawa State, led by the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), revenue officers, and key policy and tax experts.

The core objective of the session was multifaceted: to enhance understanding of the NTA 2025 and its specific implications for local government administration, strengthen collaboration between state and local tiers for revenue harmonization and joint administration, and improve the technical capacity of local government leaders in deploying modern revenue processes and digital systems.

During the event, the Executive Chairman of the Jigawa Internal Revenue Service (JIRS), Dr. Nasir Sabo Idris, commended the state government’s leadership for its commitment to fiscal autonomy.

“I wish to acknowledge the immense support of His Excellency, Governor Malam Umar Namadi, FCA,” Dr. Idris said.

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According to Dr. Idris, Jigawa Governor’s commitment to revenue generation has been unwavering, ensuring a consistent improvement in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Dr. Idris pointed out that the upcoming launch of JigiTax, a wholly digital platform designed to streamline and modernize revenue collection across Jigawa State, is underway.

He said the move is seen as a direct response to strengthening transparency and blocking revenue leakages.

On his part, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Local Government, Ibrahim Graba Hannun-Giwa, whose address was delivered by the Director of Research, Malam Samaila Yusuf, said:

“The Ministry of Local Government is doing all it takes to continue supporting the visionary policies of Governor Namadi and driving policies that will shore up the revenue base of our local governments,” Malam Yusuf stated, emphasizing a unified approach to fiscal strength.

The dividends of the collaborative efforts were highlighted by the ALGON Chairman, who also serves as the Chairman of Dutse Local Government.

Speaking to newsmen, he asserted that the state’s disciplined approach had fundamentally altered the financial landscape at the grassroots level.

“With the commitment shown by Governor Namadi and the diligent efforts of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee, no local government in Jigawa now seeks intervention,” the ALGON Chairman declared.

He said, “Revenue loopholes are being systematically blocked, and improved compliance by different stakeholders, including markets and motor parks remitting their taxes, has significantly boosted our revenue drive.”

He further confirmed that the local governments had already undertaken a series of awareness trainings for all relevant stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition to the NTA 2025.

Barrister Aliyu Abdullahi said the in a paper presentation titled “State and Local Government in the Law,” by a legal practitioner. The paper specifically called for the legislative institutionalization of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee by the State House of Assembly. This institutional backing, the practitioner argued, would solidify the collaborative framework for revenue harmonization and ensure its longevity beyond the current administration.

 

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Former President Obasanjo Endorses Turaki’s Faction of PDP

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo hosted the national working committee (NWC) of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The PDP faction visited the former president on Saturday, and Kabiru Turaki led the delegation.

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Those among the delegation are: Muazu Aliyu, former Niger governor; Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau; Adolphus Wabara, former senate president, and many more.

Interacting with the delegation, Obasanjo commended the faction’s effort, adding that its members should “soldier on”.

The former president also urged the faction to remain steadfast in instilling discipline in the party, adding that:

“anybody who wants to belong to a political party must adhere strictly to its rules and regulations”.

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