Over 5,000 persons living with disabilities (PWDs) from all 44 local government areas of Kano State have received support through a wide-reaching empowerment program spearheaded by Abdussalam Abubakar Zaura known as A.A. Zaura.

The beneficiaries converged in Kano metropolis, where the empowerment forms were officially distributed.

Speaking at the event on behalf of AA Zaura, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Zaura said the initiative was designed to discourage street begging and promote self-reliance among PWDs across the state.

He added that program was designed to enhance economic inclusion and improve the quality of life for marginalized communities across the state

He noted that the gesture was part of a broader commitment to support vulnerable groups and integrate them into productive economic activities.

Alhaji Ado, a former Deputy Chairman of Ungoggo Local Government Area, emphasized that years of neglect and lack of adequate support from both government and well-meaning individuals had pushed many PWDs into street begging.

He stressed that the empowerment programme aims to reverse that trend by providing sustainable means of livelihood.
According to him, AA Zaura resolved to come to the aid of PWDs by offering various empowerment opportunities, including start up capital for small-scale businesses, sewing machines, scholarships, and other forms of assistance tailored to individual needs and interests, including education.

He further disclosed the introduction of a new initiative tagged “AA Zaura Aqidah Programme,” under which 27 participants will be selected from each ward across the state to benefit from further empowerment, with special focus on youths.

Also speaking at the event, Garba Nuhu Darki, former member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Wudil Constituency and Director-General, Political Contact and Mobilization of the AA Zaura Movement, described the large turnout of PWDs as a clear indication of AA Zaura’s vision and leadership direction.

“To me, the gathering I witnessed today reflects the direction of AA Zaura’s ambition, especially considering that this empowerment programme is exclusively for persons living with disabilities,” he said.

He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the support provided and to continue supporting the movement in order to achieve its broader political aspirations.

Earlier, Chief Protocol of the movement, Abubakar Yawale (popularly known as Baba Yawale), said PWDs occupy a special place in the heart of AA Zaura, adding that for over 20 years, AA Zaura has consistently supported persons with disabilities to enhance their wellbeing and productivity in society.

In his remarks, Isa PA assured the beneficiaries that more empowerment programmes were underway.

He revealed plans to procure hearing aids for persons with hearing impairments, walking sticks for the visually impaired, and electric wheelchairs for physically challenged persons. He, however, encouraged beneficiaries to ensure they obtained their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

In her remarks, Hajiya Maimuna Shitu, popularly known as Uwar Marayu, commended A.A. Zaura for his initiatives aimed at enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities and, by extension, orphans.

She urged the beneficiaries to rally behind Zaura’s vision of advancing the socio-economic welfare of the populace.

Hajiya Maimuna noted that all his efforts in capacity building and economic empowerment have been carried out independently, without external assistance.

She highlighted that Zaura has been funding these initiatives from his personal resources, acting in his capacity as a businessman rather than a government official.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed their happiness for the gesture and affirmed their loyalty to AA Zaura.

The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme in Kano State on Wednesday has organised a one-day media sensitisation training on Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) for improved nutrition, aimed at strengthening the role of the media in promoting positive nutrition practices across the state.

The training, themed “From Information to Action: Media’s Role in Driving Nutrition Behavior Change,” brought together media practitioners and key stakeholders to deepen their understanding of the SAPZ concept, its development objectives, and its nutrition intervention programme.

Introducing the programme, the Knowledge Management and Communication Officer of the SAPZ Programme, Kano State Coordination Office, Rabi Mustapha Sadiq, explained that SAPZ is a collaborative initiative involving the Kano State Government, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). She noted that IFAD and IsDB are the co-founders of the Kano State SAPZ initiative.

She also stated that the programme was initiated by the Kano State Government to support smallholder farmers, small-scale agro-processors, and community-based service providers, with the overall goal of boosting agricultural productivity, value addition, and food and nutrition security.

Highlighting the progress recorded so far, he revealed that over 2,000 farmers benefited from the programme during the 2024 wet season under the merchant grant implementation scheme. She added that plans are underway to support more than 9,000 farmers during the 2026 dry season, covering rice producers, processors and marketers, as well as tomato, groundnut, and sesame value chains.

On her part, Dr. Rukayya Aliyu Yusuf of the Department of Information and Media Studies, Bayero University Kano, delivered a presentation on understanding the basics of behaviour change towards improving nutrition in Kano State.

She stated that journalists have a critical role to play in improving nutrition among the population by creating awareness and producing programmes that can help change people’s behaviour towards eating a balanced diet.

Dr. Rukayya noted that although changing people’s behaviour is often difficult, journalists can influence it by applying wisdom in their programmes and write-ups. According to her, behaviour change is the process of modifying how a person acts, thinks, or responds—moving from old habits to new ones. She described this as a significant task but stressed that with wisdom and strategic communication, it can be achieved.

She further explained that in Kano State, as in many parts of the country—particularly in the North—malnutrition and poor dietary practices remain serious challenges. However, she emphasized that through sustained advocacy and accountability, journalists can use investigative journalism to expose issues such as food wastage, corruption, and policy failures that contribute to poor nutrition outcomes.

Dr. Rukayya also highlighted the importance of community engagement and data-driven reporting.
SolaceBase reports that she advised journalists to first understand the behaviour of the people they are engaging with before attempting to influence or change it.
According to her, nutrition is not merely about food; it is about choices, habits, and the social and cultural contexts that shape those choices—making it fundamentally a behavioural issue.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Bashir Muhammad Sunusi, thanked the organisers of the programme, noting that the government cannot achieve its objectives alone and that the media must play an active role.
He emphasized that the Kano State Government is fully committed to improving agriculture across the state.
He disclosed that the state government has approved the construction of 11 dams to enhance irrigation and boost farmers’ productivity. According to him, the government has also procured a large number of tractors and combine harvesters as part of efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector and increase agricultural output.

By Abba Anwar

It is in rare cases that you spot individual politician like the Deputy Senate President and First Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Dr Barau I Jibrin, CFR, who enters the new year of 2026 with a profound human development engagement.

On Thursday, First January, 2026, he distributed 129 federal government employment offers for his people. An event that took place at Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano.

Senator Barau was represented at the occasion by Honourable Minister of State, Housing, Yusuf Abdullahi Atah, who urged all the beneficiaries to remain committed and steadfast in the discharge of their responsibilities.

This at the very beginning of the new year, gives an insight into his relentless effort in developing his people with vigor and unwavering commitment. My readers could be witnesses in one way or another, of how difficult it is in today’s Nigeria to get access to federal government appointments.

This effort speaks volumes about how deeply rooted is the DSP in the welfare of his people. Being a highly responsive leader with special interest in building the capacity of his constituents, his love for skills development is concrete and unassuming.

What interests all about this New Year resolution process of the Deputy Senate President, is the selection process of the newly recruited beneficiaries. The procedure was characterized by due process as all applicants were given equal opportunities to compete.

Believe it or not, his unique interventions in the past instances, before now, helped in acknowledging him as one of the few identified productive politicians who always put the electorate first before any other consideration. Public interest first before personal identification.

The year 2026, could be a pregnant of many interpretations and divergent outcomes to many people. But from the look of things, as DSP opens the new year with the distribution of 129 federal government employment opportunities, his, will be a scenario of happy, happier and happiest. Making 129 families happy, the first day of a year, isn’t an easy task. He didn’t give these families fish, but he facilitated their knowledge and accessibility to learn how to catch a fish. A whole lot life saving engagement.

I read, listened and watched new year messages from individual politicians and non-politicians alike, not only across Kano state, or North West, but across the entire 19 Northern states, if not across Nigeria, as a whole, from yesterday to this morning, I couldn’t spot any, who opened a new chapter of 2026 with such style as DSP does.

I know if you can ask him one-on-one, he will tell you that, this is not his making but a Divine process and implementation. But I stand to be corrected. While individual preferences are always allowed in daily engagements, but the fate and outcomes are the fundamental power of The Creature. To the normal mind, DSP’s first public engagement in 2026, catalogues victory, safety and protection. That only discerning minds see the flipside.

During the event of the distribution of appointment letters, a great number of the beneficiaries attended the event with their families, friends and well wishers. All praying for happy and prosperous life for the DSP. For putting smile in their faces. Emphasizing that, this is what democracy and its dividends should be.

As one of the strongest pillars of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the country, Senator Barau, as reserve and calm, as he appears, maintains that, human development first before any other consideration. Hence his many years of meaningful interventions. While his approach strengthens his political base, his exposure places him above many of his contemporaries. Not to say a word on late comers.

Distinguished Senator’s name alone, is synonymous with hard work, selfless service, informed exposure, unwavering commitment, enduring political relationships, communal togetherness, focus, ingenuity, enhanced expertise in governance, collective responsibility and political independence.

Anwar writes from Kano
Friday, 2nd January, 2026