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Mental Health Awareness Campaign Targets Women Aged 18 and Above in Kano

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A mental health awareness advocate and chef, Aisha Dahiru Suleiman, has said that many women suffering from depression often fail to recognize the condition and instead attribute it to spiritual causes, a situation she described as a major challenge in society.

Suleiman made this known during an awareness campaign on mental health, legal rights, digital content creation, and women’s empowerment held in Kano. She explained that the gathering was organized to educate women and girls on critical social issues affecting their lives and to provide them with the knowledge and skills needed to improve their well-being.

 

According to the 25-year-old convener, the event is expected to attract about 150 participants. She said the initiative seeks to create awareness on mental health, legal rights, digital content creation, and empowerment, particularly among women who may be struggling silently with psychological challenges.

Suleiman said research she conducted revealed that depression and other mental health conditions are common among women from local communities, especially those experiencing marital abuse and other forms of mistreatment. She noted that abuse by individuals in positions of authority, including teachers and healthcare professionals, can also contribute to mental health challenges.

“Many people believe that only older adults suffer from depression, but that is not true. Mental health conditions affect people of different ages. Our awareness campaign is targeted at women from the age of 18 and above to help them understand these issues and seek appropriate support,” she said.

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Speaking at the event, the mother of the convener, Barrister Bilkisu Ibrahim Suleiman, commended her daughter’s commitment to creating awareness despite facing personal health challenges.

She disclosed that Aisha had experienced several physical, mental, and psychological health challenges, which inspired her passion for advocating for mental health awareness. According to her, the campaign aims to address widespread misconceptions surrounding mental health and encourage women to speak openly about their experiences.

“The primary objective is to create awareness in our society. We live in a community where women are often not sufficiently empowered. Through this initiative, my daughter hopes to inspire women to overcome challenges and realize their full potential,” she said.

Also speaking, Dr. Saudat Abdussalam Waya, a psychiatrist and mental health specialist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, described the topic as highly important but frequently neglected in society.

She noted that mental health remains widely misunderstood, leading to numerous misconceptions about conditions such as depression, substance abuse, and other mental disorders.

“Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It includes self-confidence, health management, and overall awareness of one’s mental state. Unfortunately, many misconceptions persist in society,” she said.

Dr. Waya explained that some people wrongly believe that depression only affects white people or men, while others assume that substance addiction cannot be treated. She stressed that mental disorders result from multiple factors, including biological, hormonal, environmental, and social influences.

She further challenged the belief that all mental health conditions are caused by spiritual forces, noting that many cases are medical conditions that require professional treatment.

“The misconception that mental illness is always caused by spirits is often incorrect. Mental disorders are diseases just like malaria and should not attract stigma. The earlier they are recognized, the better the chances of successful treatment,” she added.

The psychiatrist listed conditions such as schizophrenia among the mental disorders that require medical attention and emphasized the need for increased public education to reduce discrimination and encourage affected individuals to seek help.

The event highlighted the growing need for mental health awareness, legal education, digital literacy, and women’s empowerment, with participants urged to become advocates for positive change within their communities.

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Mahanga TV appoints former AREWA24 staff Zuwairiyah Girei as MD

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Mahanga TV, a Kano-based television station, has appointed former AREWA24 staff member Zuwairiyah Adamu Girei as its new Managing Director, bringing her more than 14 years of experience in Hausa-language television production and broadcasting to the organisation.

Girei was formally welcomed into her new role during a reception held at Mahanga TV’s premises in Kano on Monday, November 2, 2026, marking a new phase in the organisation’s growthe barely three months after its launch.

Speaking at the reception, Girei expressed excitement over her appointment, describing her experience at AREWA24 as a significant milestone in her professional journey.

She said she would draw on the knowledge and experience acquired during her time at the television station to strengthen Mahanga TV and drive it towards greater achievements.

“All the experience I have at AREWA24, I will bring here, and I think I will do extraordinary because I know what I have learnt there. I pray that we will see success beyond our expectations,” she said.

Outlining her vision for Mahanga TV, the new Managing Director said the organisation would look beyond Northern Nigeria and target audiences across Africa and the rest of the world.

She identified the large Hausa-speaking population as a major opportunity for the industry, noting that despite the challenges facing Hausa-language broadcasting, the sector has a substantial audience.

“We have over 60 million Hausa speakers in Nigeria, so I think we have a target audience we have to try to reach,” she said.

Girei said her leadership would focus on understanding audience expectations, introducing improvements and positioning Hausa productions for international recognition.

“Our thinking is pan-African; our thinking is the world. Our thinking is now how can Hausa film reach the Oscars. That is the thinking,” she said.

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Looking ahead to the next decade, she expressed her ambition to see Mahanga TV secure three to four Academy Awards, earn international recognition and become a household name among viewers across different age groups.

She said she envisioned a future where Mahanga TV would be the preferred television platform in homes, with both adults and children identifying with its programmes.

The Chief Executive Officer of Mahanga TV, Nuhu Abdullahi Balarabe, said Girei’s appointment was informed by the organisation’s rapid growth and the need for experienced leadership to sustain its progress.

Balarabe explained that he initially served as both Managing Director and CEO but decided to appoint a dedicated Managing Director to oversee the organisation’s daily operations and provide the leadership required to sustain its expanding activities.

He said the organisation needed someone who could provide consistent leadership and maintain its momentum as it continued to grow.

“She is well experienced, and I’m sure she will use that experience to take the organisation further from where it is,” he said.

Balarabe disclosed that Mahanga TV had recorded progress beyond its initial expectations within three months of launching, attributing the achievement to the dedication of its staff, consultants and advisers.

He said the organisation was expanding its content offerings through original productions and partnerships with independent producers to provide audiences with engaging programmes.

He also urged viewers to continue supporting the station and sharing feedback through its social media platforms and WhatsApp channel, assuring them that the organisation remained open to suggestions as it worked to improve its services.

Reaffirming the organisation’s broader ambition, Balarabe said Mahanga TV was committed to ensuring that Hausa stories, culture and experiences reached audiences across the world.

“We have a beautiful tale happening in Northern Nigeria, and I believe it is only we that can tell our own story. We want to make sure all our stories are told and they reach every part of the world,” he said.

Also speaking, Mahanga TV’s Creative Director and Brand Manager, Abdulbasit Abanikanda, described Girei’s appointment as a timely development that would strengthen the organisation’s management structure and provide better direction for its expanding workforce.

Abanikanda recalled that Mahanga TV started with a team of just three people but had since grown considerably, making the appointment of an experienced manager necessary to coordinate its activities.

He expressed confidence in Girei’s ability to advance the station’s creative vision, noting that her ambition of taking Hausa stories to audiences across the world aligned with the organisation’s objectives.

With Girei’s appointment, Mahanga TV aims to consolidate its early progress, strengthen its content production and expand the reach of Hausa storytelling, creating opportunities for Northern Nigeria’s stories, culture and creative talent to gain wider national and international recognition.

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Kano Governor Nominates Ex- Speaker, Spokesperson as Commissioners

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Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has nominated his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, and a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Balarabe Sa’idu Gani, for appointment as commissioners.

The governor has forwarded their names to the Kano State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

The Assembly is expected to screen the nominees on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

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In a statement issued on Monday, the Assembly’s spokesperson, Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai, said the legislature had received a formal communication from Governor Yusuf requesting the screening of the two nominees.

He added that the exercise would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Gani served as Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2007, while Bature currently serves as the governor’s spokesperson.

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2027: Rep Abubakar Kabir Bichi holds strategic meeting with Kano lawmakers

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The Chairman, House of representatives committee on appropriations Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, has convened a meeting of all APC State Assembly Members and 40 Candidates in the upcoming 2027 General elections, led by the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jibril Ismail Falgore.

Crucial issues were discussed on how best to coordinate their campaigns programs to deliver the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

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The meeting was held at his Bichi office, Sunday evening 1st November 2026.

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