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Prof Yusuf Adamu Delivers BUK’s 63rd Professorial Inaugural Lecture, Reflects on Medical Geography and Academic Legacy

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3 weeks ago

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Professor Yusuf M Adamu delivering the lecture

 

By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

Professor Yusuf Adamu, a scholar of Medical Geography at Bayero University Kano (BUK), has delivered the university’s 63rd Professorial Inaugural Lecture, reflecting on his academic journey, research, mentorship and contributions to the development of health and medical geography.

Professor Adamu delivered the lecture under the theme, “Putting Health and Disease in Place: My Story and Legacy,” where he traced the evolution of his interest in geography, his transition into medical geography and the research contributions of his students and collaborators.

Speaking during the lecture, Professor Adamu described medical geography as a sub-discipline of geography concerned with understanding the spatial dimensions of health, disease and healthcare, noting that scholars in the field are sometimes known by different professional descriptions.

According to him, human beings should be regarded as citizens of the world from the perspective of physical and natural processes because health and disease are influenced by the environments in which people live.

Professor Adamu said BUK has emerged as an important centre for the study and development of Medical Geography, attributing the progress to sustained research, teaching, mentorship and collaboration among scholars and students.

Reflecting on his childhood and early intellectual development, the professor said his earliest geographical thoughts were connected to ideas about heaven and earth, before his interest gradually expanded to physical geography and the natural environment.

He said he remained fascinated by physical geographical features, including landforms, rivers and valleys, which later contributed to the development of his broader interest in the relationship between people, places and health.

Professor Adamu also recalled that his father worked with the World Health Organisation (WHO) between 1967 and 1970, saying his early exposure to health-related issues contributed to the intellectual environment that shaped his later academic interests.

The professor said his academic journey also took him to Ibadan, where he produced his first research paper on Dakin Duhu, or “The Dark Room,” while his Master’s research focused on eclampsia, a serious pregnancy-related medical condition.

Speaking on his research into maternal health, Professor Adamu explained that maternal morbidity and mortality should not be treated as fixed phenomena because their patterns can change across time and locations.

He cited data from his research to illustrate fluctuations in maternal health indicators, noting that figures recorded in 1992 were different from those recorded in 1993, demonstrating the importance of examining health conditions spatially and over time.

According to him, his research also examined the differences between urban and rural health challenges, including issues surrounding eclampsia and anaemia epidemics.

Professor Adamu argued that health geography must move beyond a narrow concentration on hospitals and healthcare facilities to examine the wider social, environmental and economic factors that influence people’s health.

He said gender analysis should also form an important part of health geography, while challenging researchers to examine how social and spatial conditions affect men and women differently.

On his role as an academic mentor, Professor Adamu disclosed that he had supervised more than 200 undergraduate students during his career and had also supervised seventeen PhD students between 2010 and 2026.

He said some of his doctoral students had expanded their research beyond conventional health geography, working on subjects including depression and anxiety, medical tourism and other emerging areas of health research.

Professor Adamu said his philosophy of mentorship was centred on producing competent medical geographers who could eventually conduct independent research and mentor others.

He described himself as a demanding supervisor, saying his students were aware of his high expectations, but added that he also gave them choices, made himself available to them and provided access to his office at virtually all times when they needed academic guidance.

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The professor said he also referred students to experts in specialised areas whenever such external expertise was necessary, adding that compassion remained an important part of his relationship with students.

Professor Adamu paid tribute to the late Zainab Bello, one of his students who worked on low vision, describing her contribution as part of the academic legacy of the students he had mentored.

He said his collaborative research network had continued to grow, adding that he had worked with 16 students on published research papers as part of his effort to expose young scholars to collaborative academic research.

According to him, the ultimate measure of mentorship is not simply the number of students supervised but the quality of work produced by those students and their ability to become independent researchers and mentors themselves.

Professor Adamu said many of his former students had now begun producing independent research, with some focusing on diseases such as malaria and meningitis.

He described the work as part of a sustained research tradition, stressing the importance of building academic capacity that would continue beyond the careers of individual scholars.

The professor also spoke about the development of a school of Medical Geography in Kano, describing it as part of the continuing institutionalisation and expansion of health and medical geography research in the North.

Looking into the future, Professor Adamu outlined the vision and prospects of health and medical geography, saying the discipline has an important role to play in identifying health problems and understanding their geographical distribution.

He noted that marginalised communities should not be regarded as simply missing from health statistics, but should be deliberately identified and studied to understand the factors responsible for their exclusion from healthcare and other social services.

Professor Adamu highlighted the practical value of medical geography, including the identification of disease hotspots, analysis of access to obstetric care, modelling and the use of empirical studies to support better understanding of health challenges.

He called on medical geographers to intensify their research and ensure that their findings contribute to solving real-world health problems.

The professor said the fight against disease had not yet been won, but maintained that researchers and policymakers were now better equipped to locate disease patterns, understand their causes and develop approaches capable of addressing them.

In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University Kano, Professor Haruna Musa, described Professor Adamu as a scholar who had spent more than three decades teaching, researching and contributing to the development of the university.

Professor Musa said the inaugural lecture provided an opportunity for Professor Adamu to showcase his intellectual journey and contributions to academia, adding that the professor was not only an academic but also a poet and novelist.

The Vice-Chancellor called on other professors who had not yet delivered their inaugural lectures to take advantage of the opportunity, saying the university was working to revive its culture of professorial and academic lecture series.

According to Professor Musa, the university would continue to organise lectures and other intellectual programmes that would provide opportunities for academics to share their knowledge and research with the wider university community.

Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Professor Abdulaziz Raji, described Professor Yusuf Adamu as a distinguished scholar whose academic career had made significant contributions to the university and the field of Medical Geography.

Professor Raji said Professor Adamu was born in March 1968 in Katsina and progressed through his academic career before attaining the rank of professor in 2010.

He said Professor Adamu’s academic development was strengthened by his international scholarship at the University of Alabama in the United States, where he studied from 2001 to 2003 under a Fulbright scholarship programme.

Professor Raji said the professor’s academic and mentorship contributions had helped produce a large body of scholarly work, with his students and collaborators contributing to more than 230 publications.

He added that Professor Adamu himself had produced more than 135 publications, including over 40 works written in Hausa, demonstrating his contribution to both international scholarship and scholarship accessible to local audiences.

The dean said Professor Adamu’s body of work reflected a career that combined teaching, research, mentorship, international collaboration and engagement with issues affecting communities.

The inaugural lecture therefore provided an opportunity for the university community, academics, students and invited guests to reflect on the evolution of Medical Geography at BUK and Professor Adamu’s contribution to the discipline.

Professor Adamu’s lecture also underscored the importance of continuing research into the geographical dimensions of disease, healthcare access and the social and environmental factors that shape health outcomes.

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Kano Monitors ₦48.9bn Projects Across Six LGAs

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13 hours ago

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October 12, 2026

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By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

The Kano State Government says it has intensified monitoring and evaluation of public projects across six local government areas, with 106 projects valued at approximately ₦48.91 billion assessed during routine inspections in September 2026.

The Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Nura Iro Maaji, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Kano on the findings of the ministry’s monitoring exercises, which covered Kabo, Dawakin Tofa, Tofa, Shanono, Gwarzo and Bagwai local government areas.

Maaji said the inspections were designed to assess the physical progress of government-funded projects, examine the quality of executed works, identify implementation challenges and determine the extent to which public investments were delivering benefits to residents.

According to the commissioner, the monitoring exercise formed part of the commitment of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to transparency, accountability and improved service delivery across Kano State.

He explained that the monitoring teams comprised professionals and technical officers from the ministry, supported by its media team, who visited project sites to evaluate construction works and assess the condition and functionality of public facilities.

The commissioner said the projects inspected covered roads, classroom construction and renovation, healthcare facilities, neighbourhood security divisional offices, solar-powered streetlighting, drainage systems, water supply and other essential infrastructure.

Maaji stressed that government projects should not be assessed solely on the basis of contract awards, adding that their quality, functionality, sustainability and measurable benefits to communities were equally important.

80 Projects Recorded at 100 Per Cent Progress

Providing a breakdown of the monitoring findings, Maaji said 80 of the 106 project entries, representing approximately 75.5 per cent, were recorded as having attained 100 per cent physical progress.

He said another 20 projects were at various stages of implementation, while six had recently been awarded, bringing the total number of project entries covered by the six local government schedules to 106.

The commissioner, however, emphasised that the ministry would continue to conduct follow-up inspections to establish compliance with contractual obligations, verify the quality of work and ensure that outstanding issues were addressed before projects were formally closed out.

According to the project schedules accompanying the monitoring report, the 106 entries had a reconstructed aggregate contract value of ₦48,910,349,389.07, or approximately ₦48.91 billion.

The figures represent entries in the monitoring schedules and physical progress recorded during the inspections; they do not, by themselves, constitute independently verified completion certificates for all projects listed as 100 per cent complete.

Kabo Records Highest Project Value

A comparison of the six local government areas showed that Kabo had 15 project entries valued at approximately ₦15.52 billion, the highest aggregate value among the areas covered by the exercise.

The monitoring schedules recorded 12 of the Kabo projects as having reached 100 per cent physical progress, while two were ongoing and one had recently been awarded.

In Dawakin Tofa, the ministry assessed 16 project entries valued at approximately ₦11.16 billion, with 12 recorded at 100 per cent completion, three ongoing and one recently awarded.

Tofa had 15 project entries valued at approximately ₦3.14 billion, of which 12 were recorded at 100 per cent physical progress and three were ongoing, according to the schedules.

Shanono accounted for 21 project entries valued at approximately ₦7 billion, with 14 recorded at 100 per cent progress, four ongoing and three recently awarded.

In Gwarzo, the monitoring schedules contained 23 project entries valued at approximately ₦6.08 billion, with 21 recorded at 100 per cent physical progress and two ongoing.

Bagwai had 16 project entries valued at approximately ₦6.01 billion, comprising nine recorded at 100 per cent progress, six ongoing and one recently awarded.

Major Road Projects Require Further Monitoring

Despite the progress recorded in several areas, the monitoring report identified a number of major road projects that remained under construction and would require further assessment.

The report placed the Janguza–Durum–Kabo–Karaye road corridor in Kabo at 48 per cent physical progress, while the Hawan Ganji–Badari–Kadere road in Gwarzo was recorded at 67 per cent.

Similarly, the five-kilometre road project in Shanono was recorded at 65 per cent physical progress, according to the monitoring schedules.

The commissioner said the ministry would continue to engage implementing agencies and contractors to address delays, incomplete works and quality concerns, with follow-up inspections expected to focus on compliance with project specifications and agreed implementation milestones.

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Maaji also said the ministry would apply corrective measures where necessary and pursue further technical reviews to ensure that public funds translated into infrastructure that met the required standards.

Education Projects Show Mixed Progress

On educational infrastructure, the commissioner said investments in classroom construction, school renovations, furniture and sanitation facilities were intended to improve learning environments and support access to quality education across the state.

However, the monitoring schedules showed varying levels of progress among some education projects, including classrooms at Government Junior Secondary School, Badau, in Bagwai, which were recorded at 55 per cent completion.

The report also placed the GAA/GGSS Badau project at 16 per cent physical progress, while the Government Technical College project in Gwarzo was recorded at 72 per cent.

Maaji said the ministry would continue to monitor such projects and work with the relevant implementing agencies to address delays and ensure that construction and rehabilitation works were completed in accordance with approved specifications.

He added that the government’s investment in schools and related facilities must produce tangible improvements for students and communities rather than remain limited to expenditure on contracts.

Security, Streetlighting and Healthcare Facilities

The monitoring exercise also covered neighbourhood security facilities, solar-powered streetlighting, healthcare infrastructure and water supply projects across the six local government areas.

According to the report, neighbourhood security divisional offices in several areas were recorded at 100 per cent physical progress, while the corresponding project in Dawakin Tofa stood at 85 per cent.

The report further indicated that solar streetlighting projects in Bagwai and Shanono were at 35 per cent progress, while the project monitored in Kabo was recorded at 100 per cent.

In the health sector, the rehabilitation of Shanono Primary Health Centre was recorded at 84 per cent physical progress, while a hand-pump borehole project in the area was listed as completed.

Maaji said investments in healthcare, water supply, rural electrification and security infrastructure were important to public welfare, community safety and improved living conditions.

He explained that the ministry would continue to assess the quality and functionality of such facilities to ensure that they served their intended purposes and provided lasting benefits to residents.

Kano Introduces Digital Project Monitoring System

Beyond physical inspections, Maaji announced that the ministry was strengthening project oversight through a digital initiative under the Kano State Integrated Project Monitoring System, accessible at kanoprocurement.ng.

He said the system was intended to improve the organisation of project information, geographical tracking, visibility and reporting of implementation progress, while allowing field evidence to inform management decisions.

According to him, the ministry would continue to improve the completeness and reliability of project data and strengthen follow-up reporting as part of efforts to make monitoring more effective.

Maaji said the use of digital tools would enable the government to improve access to information about public projects and strengthen its ability to identify implementation challenges and take appropriate action.

Digital Procurement Platform Goes Live

The commissioner also announced that the Kano State Digital Public Procurement Platform had gone live at procurement.kn.gov.ng, describing the initiative as an important step towards improving transparency and accountability in public procurement.

He said the platform was designed to promote structured and traceable procurement processes, improve planning and documentation, strengthen audit trails, widen access to procurement opportunities and reduce administrative bottlenecks.

Maaji added that the initiative was also expected to support more efficient procurement processes and improve value for money in government spending.

He said the reform was intended to support the objectives of the Kano State Public Procurement Law, 2021, but stressed that its effectiveness would depend on adoption by the 10 pilot ministries, departments and agencies, sustained capacity development and compliance with applicable regulations.

The commissioner maintained that digital infrastructure alone could not guarantee accountability, noting that effective implementation, proper documentation and adherence to established procedures remained essential to achieving the desired results.

Government to Extend Monitoring Across 44 LGAs

Maaji said the ministry’s priorities included sustaining routine and follow-up monitoring across all 44 local government areas in Kano State and engaging implementing agencies and contractors to resolve delays and incomplete projects.

He added that the government would strengthen project data management and geographical reporting through the Integrated Project Monitoring System while supporting the gradual adoption of the digital procurement platform.

According to him, the ministry would also prioritise quality assurance, procurement compliance and demonstrable value for money in the execution of public projects.

Maaji further announced plans to sustain evidence-based public communication and transparent reporting of monitoring findings through town hall meetings across the state’s 44 local government areas.

He called on implementing agencies, contractors, professional bodies, civil society organisations, the media and members of the public to support the government’s efforts to improve project monitoring and public accountability.

The commissioner commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his leadership and acknowledged the contributions of the ministry’s technical officers and media team to the monitoring exercise.

He said the ministry remained committed to ensuring that monitoring served as a practical instrument for accountability and improved service delivery.

Maaji said every public project must be accounted for, every public investment justified and every public resource translated into meaningful benefits for the people of Kano State, with measurable value for money.

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Muhammad Hussari Makes INEC Final List as APM Governorship Candidate in Kano

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13 hours ago

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October 12, 2026

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Former member of the House of Representatives, Muhammad Hussari Bashir Galadanchi, has made the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Kano State.

Hussari’s name appeared on the list alongside that of his running mate, Abdullahi Umar Protocol.

Hailing from Sarina in Garko Local Government Area of Kano State, Hussari is set to challenge incumbent Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Ibrahim Ali Amin Little, in the governorship election.

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Born in 1979, Hussari is an Oxford-trained negotiator. He obtained a degree in Business Administration from Bayero University Kano in 2006 and a certificate in Negotiation Skills from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

He began his formal education at Gwale Special Primary School before proceeding to Rumfa College, Kano, for his secondary education.

Hussari served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015, representing Gwale Federal Constituency. Between 2015 and 2019, he served as Senior Special Assistant to former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Beyond politics, Hussari also served as Chairman of Success Vision International Limited in the United Kingdom.

His background in business, legislative affairs and negotiation is expected to feature prominently in his campaign as he seeks to secure the governorship of Kano State under the APM platform.

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Court Directs ICPC to Produce El-Rufai for Next Hearing

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16 hours ago

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October 12, 2026

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The Kaduna State High Court on Monday directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to produce former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for the next hearing in his trial.

Justice Darius Khobo gave the directive while adjourning proceedings after counsel for the defence and the prosecution agreed to the adjournment.

Speaking before the court, ICPC lead counsel, Ayodeleji Adelukpe, SAN, explained that the defence had requested an adjournment to enable its lead counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, to attend the swearing-in ceremony for a new set of Senior Advocates of Nigeria at the Supreme Court.

Adelukpe said Erokoro had sent him a WhatsApp message requesting that the proceedings scheduled for Monday and Tuesday be vacated, followed by a telephone call to explain the request.

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He said he agreed to the adjournment for Monday out of respect for Erokoro and in recognition of the importance of the Supreme Court event but proposed that the case continue on Tuesday.

According to him, he suggested 10 a.m. for the continuation of proceedings, subject to the judge’s approval, but Erokoro requested that the sitting be fixed for noon.

The ICPC counsel, however, expressed surprise that El-Rufai was also absent from court, saying the communication he received from the defence counsel did not indicate that the defendant would be unavailable.

Adelukpe told the court that the information available to him was that El-Rufai would not attend because he wanted to review the results of his medical tests.

The court subsequently adjourned the proceedings until Tuesday and directed the ICPC to produce the former governor at the next hearing.

 

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