The International Budget Partnership (IBP), Nigeria, and the Kano State Government on Saturday in Kano signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen transparency and accountability in health sector financing.

The partnership will support the development of a health financing dashboard to enable stakeholders monitor budget planning, releases, expenditure and performance across health sector agencies in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, said the partnership had brought significant improvements in budget planning, execution and tracking in the ministry.

Labaran said the dashboard would enable the ministry to monitor the performance of its various units and agencies in real time.

He said the state government would continue to work with IBP and other partners to improve budget performance, releases and other issues relating to health financing.

IBP Country Director, Dr Olayinka Babalola,
said the dashboard was aimed at improving transparency around health budgeting and providing a comprehensive picture of expenditure.

Represented by Policy and Strategy Lead, Onyekachi Chukwu, said Kano was already making significant investments in the health sector alongside development partners, but tracking where the funds were going had been a challenge.

According to him, the MoU will support the state in developing a health financing dashboard that will enable stakeholders to monitor expenditure by various agencies in the health sector.

He said the dashboard would also provide information on the full range of investments in the sector and show where the funds were being spent.

Babalola, said the platform would help stakeholders track reasons why certain health services were not being delivered.

He said the information would enable relevant authorities to identify gaps in service delivery and take appropriate measures to address them.

Dr Shamsuddin Sani, State Representative of the Gates Foundation in Kano, said the foundation was supporting the initiative to address longstanding challenges in monitoring fund flow within the health sector.

Sani said the project would particularly focus on primary healthcare service delivery and provide clearer information on resources coming into the sector.

He said over the years, the health sector in Kano had faced challenges in tracking the amount of funding coming into the system, how much was being spent and how much was not reaching the intended areas.

According to him, government and development partners working in the sector have not had a clear picture of the resources coming into the health system and how they are being utilised.

“With this project, we want to close that gap by ensuring that we know exactly how much resources are coming into the primary healthcare system and the broader health sector in the state,” he said.

Sani said the initiative would also help determine the resources required by the sector and compare government funding with contributions from development partners.

He said the grant for the project was conceived to address the identified gaps, adding that implementation began earlier in the year.

The dashboard is expected to provide stakeholders with timely information on health financing and expenditure to support better planning, monitoring and service delivery in the state.

Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf , Saturday was honoured in the United Kingdom for his commitment and support to sports development in the state.

Our correspondent reports that the award presentation ceremony took place at the Feel Good Too , Ive Farm sports arena located at the Pavilion Walk in London.

The patron W O. Sports, Moses Andishu , while making the presentation, said the award is aimed at appreciating the governor for his consistency towards the development of sports in Kano.

Moses who doubles as SWAN national patron said “this is our token way of saying kudos to mr governor and our aim is to encourage him to do more for the growth of the industry .

He added that “ we have noticed the reforms been carried out in Kano Pillars football club , we are aware of the efforts ongoing at the Kano state Sports Commission, KSSC and Kano Pillars is taking a new shape again, the state various sports teams now honor national invitations to major competitions, this is worth encouraging.

“we are very much aware of the plans by the governor, who is investing massively in the area of the provision of infrastructure, likewise we have seen investments made to renovate and upgrade major sports facilities, in the state, we just want to say thank you to his excellency and encourage him to invest more in sports

The special adviser to the governor on Youths and Sports, Sani Musa Danja , who received the award on behalf of the state governor said , “we are very delighted and happy, his excellency does not joke with anything that has to do with the development of the youths and he has always assured that he will always do everything possible to support the growth of Kano youths.

“I receive this award on behalf of his excellency with humility and honour for my governor , eng Abba Kabiru Yusuf, his works testify for his passion and commitment to sports development, his agenda is to always ensure Kano athletes competes amongst the best of the best by providing all the requirements that is needed for the state to excel in sports , and be rest assured that with my governor in charge sports development will always remain on the burner of the Kano First Agenda.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu celebrates the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, on his 45th birthday today.

President Tinubu describes Hon. Bichi, who represents Bichi Federal Constituency of Kano State, as a vibrant, resourceful and dedicated lawmaker whose commitment to legislative duties and national development stands out.

President Tinubu remarks: “ As Chairman of one of the most strategic committees of the House, Hon. Bichi has demonstrated uncommon capacity, grit, and leadership in steering the consideration, scrutiny, and passage of the nation’s annual budget, a role central to implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“I commend him for his effective representation of his constituents and his impactful interventions in education, infrastructure, and youth empowerment, which have endeared him to his people.

“Bichi has distinguished himself since his first election to the House in 2019, where he served as Chairman of the House Committee on Works in the 9th Assembly and now as Chairman of Appropriation in the 10th Assembly.

“ As he marks his birthday today, I urge him to rededicate himself to serving his people and his fatherland.

“ And I pray to Almighty God to continue to bless him with good health, wisdom and strength.”

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
October 3, 2026