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Over 2,000 Farmers Benefit from SAPZ Programme, Plans Underway to Support 9,000 More by 2026”

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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.

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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.

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Kaduna 2027: Governor Uba Sani Replaces Deputy, Names Jerry Adams as Running Mate

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

In a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 governorship election, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has officially nominated the Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Jerry Adams, as his new running mate.

The announcement, made on Tuesday via a personally signed statement, effectively signals the end of the ticket with the current Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, who also served as Deputy to former Governor Nasir El-Rufai during his second term.

Governor Sani framed the decision as more than a political calculation, describing it as a “reaffirmation” of his administration’s core philosophy of inclusive governance.

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“This decision is far greater than the selection of a deputy governorship candidate. It is a reaffirmation of the values that have guided our administration since I took the oath of office on 29 May 2023; the values of inclusion, justice, fairness, equity and the unwavering conviction that every citizen of Kaduna State deserves a genuine sense of belonging,” the Governor stated.

Addressing the state’s complex socio-political landscape, Sani noted that Kaduna’s rich diversity in ethnicity, religion, and culture should be a source of strength rather than division. He reflected on the state’s history, emphasizing the need to learn from past conflicts.

“Our history has taught us difficult lessons about the heavy cost of division, mistrust and exclusion. Yet it has also shown us that when we choose dialogue over discord, inclusion over alienation and justice over prejudice, our people achieve extraordinary things together,” he added.

The Governor touted his administration’s track record over the last three years as evidence of this commitment, citing equitable distribution of developmental projects across the state’s 23 local government areas. Key sectors highlighted include road infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, water supply, rural development, and social protection programs.

The nomination of Jerry Adams, who currently oversees the state’s revenue generation, signals a potential shift in the administration’s focus toward economic consolidation and fiscal expansion as it prepares for the 2027 electoral contest.

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No Sin in Politics’ Wike Says as Fubara Returns to Rainbow Coalition

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

FCT minister Nyesom Wike has welcomed the return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to his political side, declaring the latter has corrected his mistakes.

He said this in Abuja on Tuesday after inspecting the project, alongside the ongoing construction of the service carriageways of the Southern Parkway in Gaduwa District, Abuja.

Reacting to the Rivers governor’s recent declaration about his return to the Rainbow Coalition and pledge of complete loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, Mr Wike said, “There is no sin in politics.”

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The minister further stated, “If someone realises he made a mistake and decides to correct it, there is nothing wrong with that.

“What matters is recognising that you were on the wrong path and deciding to take the right path.”

The minister, who welcomed Mr Fubara back into his political fold, insisted that the governor had “no other choice” than to return to the political family that brought him to power.

Mr Wike explained that the Rivers governor’s decision to align with his political camp publicly was a step in the right direction, adding that the reconciliation would strengthen support for Mr Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I said during my last media chat that he had no other choice but to return to the same political family that produced him,” Mr Wike stated.

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Aminu Magashi Donates Relief Materials to Bichi Female Rehabilitation Centre Inmates

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The Technical Adviser to the Kano State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, has donated relief materials, including blankets, food items, and essential drugs, to inmates of the Bichi Female Rehabilitation Centre following the destruction caused by a recent rainstorm.

Dr. Magashi made the donation during a visit to the facility on Sunday, July 26, accompanied by officials of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), led by its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi Kubarachi.

The visit followed a heavy rainstorm that damaged parts of the rehabilitation centre, leaving several buildings in need of urgent repairs. During the inspection, Dr. Magashi interacted with staff and female inmates while assessing the extent of the destruction.

He observed that the rainstorm had blown off the roofs of several female accommodation blocks, while sections of the perimeter fence had collapsed, creating serious safety and security concerns for the facility.

In response to the situation, Dr. Magashi commended the Kano State Emergency Management Agency for its swift intervention, particularly the decision to temporarily relocate all female inmates to a dedicated and secured section within the Bichi Male Rehabilitation Centre.

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According to SEMA, the temporary relocation was undertaken to safeguard the lives and welfare of the inmates while rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damaged facility are carried out.

Dr. Magashi described the agency’s response as timely and necessary, noting that the safety and well-being of vulnerable persons in government care should remain a top priority.

He also pledged to support SEMA and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in convening a strategic stakeholders’ meeting aimed at reviewing the incident and strengthening emergency response mechanisms across rehabilitation centres in the state.

The meeting, he said, would provide an opportunity to mobilize additional support from government institutions, non-governmental organizations, and development partners to improve SEMA’s capacity in managing the 13 rehabilitation centres under its supervision.

Dr. Magashi highlighted his continued commitment to supporting humanitarian interventions across Kano State, recalling that he had previously visited six of the state’s 13 rehabilitation centres where he donated drugs and food items to inmates.

He added that he had also sponsored a one-day capacity-building training for health workers serving in the rehabilitation centres to improve healthcare delivery to inmates.

The Technical Adviser expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, for appointing him to serve in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, pledging to continue supporting initiatives that improve the welfare of vulnerable residents across the state.If you’d like, I can also make it follow the exact Nigerian Tracker house style with a stronger lead, subhead, and editor-ready formatting.

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