The Commander of 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Kano, Brig.-Gen. Saka Jimoh, has urged students to embrace discipline, hard work, and academic excellence as essential foundations for success in life.

Jimoh made the call during a public speaking engagement at Tony Cheta Secondary School, Sabon-Gari, Kano, organised by the brigade as part of activities marking the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026.

He emphasised the critical role of teachers in shaping the character and future of young people, describing them as indispensable to nation-building.

Recalling his own secondary school experience, Jimoh noted that discipline and guidance from his teachers played a major role in his personal and professional development.

The commander cautioned students against examination malpractice, age falsification, and other forms of dishonesty, warning that such practices undermine future success.

He advised them to focus on building their knowledge base, stressing that secondary school education remains the foundation for future achievements.

Jimoh further urged students to avoid social vices such as drug abuse and internet fraud, while promoting patriotism and commitment to national development.

He called on teachers, parents, and stakeholders to work together to strengthen the education system and eliminate malpractice.

Reaffirming his commitment to youth development and national service, Jimoh said his military experience across different countries had deepened his belief in discipline and patriotism.

Earlier, Lt.-Col. Gbenga Adekunle and Maj. Hassan Abdullahi, in separate presentations, encouraged students to embrace honesty, integrity, and patriotism while shunning crime, cultism, and drug abuse.

They explained that such behaviours undermine personal growth and national security.

The officers highlighted career opportunities in the Nigerian Army, including engineering, medical services, logistics, intelligence, and communications.

They noted that the outreach aimed to strengthen civil-military relations and sensitise students on the Army’s role in national defence and development.

The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to civil-military relations through community engagement, medical outreach, infrastructure support, and disaster response activities nationwide.

In his remarks, the Director of the school, Mr. Tony Emecheta, commended the Army for its dedication to national security, youth development, and mentorship through educational outreach programmes.

He said the engagement demonstrated the Army’s role not only in protecting the country but also in shaping the future of young people through guidance and exposure to military values.

Emecheta added that the programme provided students with direct interaction with officers, helping them learn discipline, leadership, service, and possible career paths in the Armed Forces.

He expressed appreciation to the visiting officers for their sacrifices in maintaining peace and security across the country.

The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of souvenirs and learning materials to the school by the commander of 3 Brigade.

The Office of the Head of Service has concluded a two-day Capacity Building Training and Examination for Non-Administrative Officers aspiring to the managerial cadre in the Kano State Civil Service, as part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of the state’s workforce and prepare a new generation of public sector leaders.

The programme, initiated by the Office of the Head of Service in collaboration with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), was designed as an intensive learning and professional development exercise aimed at strengthening the knowledge, skills and leadership capacity of officers expected to assume managerial responsibilities in the Kano State Civil Service.

During the exercise, participants underwent comprehensive training and assessment to equip them for greater responsibilities in public service.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Head of Service, Hajiya Bilkisu Shehu Maimota, expressed satisfaction with the successful conduct of the programme, noting that its objectives had been fully achieved. She expressed confidence that the knowledge and skills acquired by the participants would significantly improve service delivery and enhance performance across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The Head of Service also commended the Kano State Government under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for its unwavering commitment to strengthening the civil service through continuous investment in capacity building and human capital development. She described the initiative as a strategic step towards building a more efficient, productive and responsive public service capable of meeting the aspirations of the people of Kano State.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Human Resource and Service Improvement, Alhaji Sabiu Shuaibu Muhammad, congratulated participants on the successful completion of the training and examination. He commended their dedication and active participation throughout the programme and urged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the discharge of their official responsibilities.

He also expressed profound appreciation to the Head of Service and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for their invaluable support and commitment to the development of the state’s civil service.

The Head of Service further appreciated the Director-General of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), the Deputy Director of Studies, the North-West Zonal Head of ASCON, Dr. A. I. Rufus, and all ASCON staff for their dedication, professionalism and invaluable contributions to the successful conduct of the programme. She equally commended the directors and staff of the Office of the Head of Service for their teamwork, effective coordination and unwavering support, which contributed immensely to the successful organisation of the training.

Speaking on behalf of all participants, Musa Ahmad Ibrahim Durumin Iya aka best seller expressed profound appreciation to His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Kano State Head of Service, the Permanent Secretary, Human Resource and Service Improvement, and the Director, Human Resource, in recognition of their immense contributions towards the successful conduct of the training programme. He described their unwavering support, visionary leadership, and commitment to human capital development as instrumental to the overall success of the capacity-building exercise.

Durumin iya further expressed sincere appreciation to Mrs. A.O. Olabimitan, Deputy Director of the Training Department, representing the Director-General of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), the Deputy Director of Studies, the North-West Zonal Head of ASCON, Dr. A. I. Rufus, and all ASCON staff for their dedication, professionalism, tireless support, and invaluable contributions to the successful conduct of the programme.

According to him, their commitment to excellence and quality training greatly enriched the learning experience and contributed significantly to the successful outcome of the exercise.

A claim currently circulating on social media that the “University of Paris” has ranked Kano State Government as the highest spending state across West Africa has been found to be unsubstantiated.

Recent investigations have shown that there is no verifiable record to support the viral claim that the “University of Paris” ranked Kano State as the highest spender on education in West Africa.

Checks of official websites and publications of Sorbonne University, Université Paris Cité, and other institutions under the University of Paris system show no such ranking, report, or statement.

According to investigation, there is no academic paper or press release from any Paris-based university mentions Kano State in relation to government expenditure across West Africa.

A review of the latest 2026 rankings shows that mentions of Nigeria focus on universities such as Bayero University Kano, which was ranked 4th in West Africa, and not on state government spending.

An educationist Hassan Usman has said that global comparative data on government spending across nations are usually issued by international bodies such as UNESCO, the World Bank, or the IMF through their education, finance, and governance reports.

According to him, University rankings released by French and international academic bodies are typically limited to academic performance, research output, and institutional reputation.

Usman urged members of the public, especially journalists, to always verify information from credible sources before sharing to avoid the spread of misinformation and fake news.

However, a check of recent UNESCO publications, including the Global Education Monitoring Report and Institute for Statistics database, showed that no such ranking placing Kano State or any Nigerian state as the highest spender in West Africa has been released.