An international conference on Arabic language and literature held at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has called for the integration of artificial intelligence, digitalisation and modern technology into the teaching, research and development of Arabic language studies. The recommendation was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the conference organised by the Department of Arabic, Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies, BUK, from September 28 to 30, 2026.

The conference, titled “Contemporary Issues in Arabic Language and Literature: Prospects and Challenges,” brought together scholars, researchers, postgraduate students, educators and officials from Nigeria and other countries, including Chad, Algeria and Egypt, according to the communiqué signed by Professor Muhammad Rabiu Auwal, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee.

The conference participants said the rapid development of artificial intelligence and digital technology had created both opportunities and challenges for the Arabic language, urging scholars and relevant authorities to develop practical approaches for advancing Arabic language teaching, learning and research in the digital era, according to the communiqué.

The participants also called on governments, educational institutions and policymakers to explore the use of Arabic in national development, particularly in education, media, translation, diplomacy, the economy and culture. The conference further recommended aligning Arabic studies with societal needs and labour market demands through research in language, literature, criticism, linguistics, translation and interdisciplinary studies, according to the communiqué.

The conference urged stakeholders to review Arabic language teaching methods and curricula, particularly for non-native speakers, while strengthening the connection between Arabic studies and modern fields such as computing, artificial intelligence, translation, media, tourism, diplomacy and the economy. The communiqué also called for collaboration between Arabic departments and departments of computer science, artificial intelligence, linguistics, translation and media.

The participants further recommended stronger academic cooperation between Nigerian universities and institutions around the world through exchange programmes, joint research projects, conferences, seminars, co-supervision of academic theses, exchange of professors and researchers, and sharing of scholarly publications and resources, according to the conference communiqué.

The conference also called for greater cultural and intellectual exchange between Arabic-speaking communities and Africa’s diverse peoples and languages, while encouraging students in higher institutions to pursue innovative research topics rather than merely repeating traditional areas of study. The participants, however, stressed the importance of preserving Arabic cultural heritage while embracing new areas of scholarship and technological development.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, and the Wazirin Kano, as well as the Director of the Egyptian Cultural Centre in Kano, the Vice President of the Association of Arabic Language and Literature Teachers in Nigeria, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Mangal University of Technology in Chad, who delivered the keynote address, according to the communiqué.

The conference also called on governments and institutions to provide resources for Arabic-related scientific research and support academic programmes, conferences, seminars and research initiatives aimed at strengthening the language in response to contemporary challenges.

The Incorporated Trustees of the Kano First Forum have petitioned the Kano State Commissioner of Police over alleged public statements by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi which the organisation said could heighten tension and threaten public peace in the state.

The petition, signed by the Forum’s solicitor, Barrister Badamasi Suleiman Gandu, urged the police to conduct a discreet, impartial and comprehensive investigation into the statements allegedly made by Dan Agundi during a press briefing on October 1, 2026.

According to the petition, the press briefing followed the participation of Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, in the Independence Day celebration and touched on issues surrounding the reported use of a horse by the monarch during the event.

The Forum alleged that the issue was particularly significant because of an existing directive by the Kano State Government concerning the use of horses, adding that the circumstances surrounding the Emir’s participation in the celebration had generated public discussion.

Kano First Forum, however, said its major concern was a statement allegedly made by Dan Agundi during the briefing in which he was quoted as telling the people of Kano State to “await their return and await further directives from them.”

The organisation described the statement as sensitive in view of the longstanding disagreements surrounding the Kano Emirate and urged security agencies to establish the context and intention behind the words.

According to the Forum, leaving members of the public to speculate about who would return, what such a return would mean and what the reference to “further directives” entailed could create unnecessary fear, anxiety and tension among residents.

The Forum said its decision to petition the police was motivated by the need to prevent statements or actions that could potentially escalate existing disagreements into confrontation.

It stressed, however, that its intervention should not be interpreted as an attempt to suppress legitimate political expression, traditional disagreements, criticism or other lawful forms of public discourse.

Rather, Kano First Forum said its objective was to ensure that disagreements concerning the Kano Emirate were addressed through lawful and peaceful channels without exposing residents to unnecessary tension or the risk of conflict.

The organisation therefore called on the Kano State Police Command to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged statements, establish their full context and determine whether they amounted to any breach of the law or conduct capable of disturbing public peace.

The Forum also appealed to political, traditional, religious and community leaders in Kano State to exercise restraint in their public communications, particularly when commenting on sensitive matters relating to the Kano Emirate.

It maintained that Kano occupies an important commercial, social and political position and that any development capable of undermining peace in the state could have consequences for millions of residents.

The organisation consequently urged all stakeholders to place the safety and security of residents above personal, political or institutional interests.

“Whatever differences may exist concerning the Kano Emirate, they must be resolved through the courts and other lawful institutions, rather than through statements that could be interpreted as threats, directives or calls for confrontation,” the Forum stated in the petition.

Kano First Forum further said it remained committed to the protection of peace, public safety and the rule of law, explaining that the petition was filed in an effort to prevent avoidable conflict and protect lives and property.

The petition was addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, while copies were also forwarded to the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services for their attention.

The Forum subsequently appealed to the security agencies to independently assess the allegations and take any lawful measures considered necessary to preserve peace and prevent developments that could threaten public order in Kano State.

The Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, has said he has constructed more than 6,000 tube wells across the district as part of efforts to boost irrigation farming and improve the livelihoods of rural communities.

Sumaila disclosed this during an interactive session with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kano, organised to review his performance and assess the implementation of his campaign promises ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The interactive session, titled “Reviewing the 2023 Kano South Campaign Promises Ahead of 2027,” provided an opportunity for the senator to highlight what he described as key legislative interventions, constituency projects and community development initiatives undertaken since his election to the Senate.

Sumaila, who represents Kano South, described the district as the largest senatorial district in Nigeria, comprising 16 local government areas, and said the size of the constituency had made it necessary for him to focus on projects capable of directly improving the lives of constituents.

The senator said the construction of more than 6,000 tube wells across Kano South was one of his major interventions, particularly because of the importance of irrigation to agricultural production in the largely agrarian communities of the district.

According to Sumaila, the tube wells were provided to expand access to water for irrigation and enable farmers to cultivate their land throughout the year, rather than depending solely on rainfall.

He said his interventions were not limited to irrigation infrastructure, stressing that his record since 2023 included a combination of legislative activities, educational projects, road interventions and other constituency development programmes.

Sumaila said he had unveiled a total of 102 projects and interventions since his election to the Senate, adding that the projects were spread across the 16 local government areas that make up Kano South.

The senator also highlighted his legislative efforts, saying that in 2023 he participated in efforts that led to the reversal of the concession of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

He said he also sponsored a motion backing the resolution on constituency projects, which he described as an important mechanism for ensuring that elected representatives could attract development projects to their constituencies.

On foreign policy, Sumaila said he opposed any military intervention in the Niger Republic, arguing that Nigeria should prioritise diplomatic and peaceful solutions to regional political crises.

He also said he moved a motion calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war and the killings of civilians in Gaza, stressing the need for the protection of innocent civilians and respect for international humanitarian principles.

The senator said he sponsored a bill in 2024 seeking the creation of Tiga State, arguing that the proposed state would bring governance and development closer to the people in the affected areas.

Sumaila also said he sponsored a motion seeking an investigation into suspected budget padding and multiple overlapping budgets, stressing the need for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

He said he also moved a motion calling for the completion of the Kano-Maiduguri Road, with particular emphasis on the Wudil-Gaya axis, which he described as an important road corridor for Kano South and the wider region.

On the persistent farmer-herder conflict, Sumaila said he made contributions on the floor of the Senate towards finding lasting solutions to the crisis, particularly through measures aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence between farming and pastoral communities.

The senator said he also sponsored a bill seeking the establishment of a Federal University of Agriculture in Kura, Kano State, saying the institution would strengthen agricultural education, research and human capital development in the state.

Sumaila further disclosed that he sponsored a motion seeking stronger legislative action against drug abuse and trafficking, which he said had become a serious concern, particularly among young Nigerians.

He said he also moved a motion urging the Federal Government to condemn and investigate the killings of Kano indigenes in Uromi, Edo State, stressing the importance of ensuring accountability whenever lives were lost through violence.

The senator also listed among his legislative initiatives a bill seeking the establishment of a Federal College of Education (Special) in Karaye, saying the institution would expand access to teacher education and support the development of specialised education.

Sumaila said he had also moved a motion calling on the Senate to invite the service chiefs to brief lawmakers on the state of insecurity in the country and the measures being taken by security agencies to protect citizens.

Beyond legislative activities, the senator said his constituency interventions included educational infrastructure, road construction and support for students.

He disclosed that arrangements had also been made for the payment of student hostel rent, describing education as one of the key areas requiring sustained intervention to reduce the financial burden on students and their families.

Sumaila also listed the Rimi-to-Magami-to-Sumaila road project among the interventions associated with his representation, saying road infrastructure remained critical to the movement of people, agricultural produce and commercial activities across the district.

He further said classroom blocks had been constructed as part of his educational interventions, including the construction of six classrooms to improve the learning environment for pupils and students.

The senator also said he had undertaken the general renovation of Almajiri schools as part of efforts to improve facilities and create a better learning environment for children enrolled in the schools.

Sumaila said his record in the Senate and his constituency development initiatives should be the basis upon which his constituents assess his performance ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I want my constituents to re-elect me based on my performance,” Sumaila said, urging voters to evaluate his representation based on the projects delivered and legislative interventions made since he assumed office.

He said the interactive engagement with journalists was intended to provide the public with an opportunity to scrutinise his activities and compare his 2023 campaign promises with what had been achieved so far.

Sumaila added that he remained committed to representing the interests of Kano South at the National Assembly and ensuring that the district continued to benefit from government projects and interventions.