Kano Ministry of Information, UNICEF Organize 2-Day Orientation for Information Officers

By Farouk Musa Isa 

The Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has organised 2-day orientation program aimed at enhancing the capacity of Information Officers of the 44 local government areas of kano State on critical issues related to child survival and development.

A statement issued by Musbahu Aminu Yakasai Deputy Director Internal Affairs of the ministry quoted the commissioner of information Baba Halilu Dantiye during the occasion held at Ni'ima Guest Palace, Kano, saying that the orientation program was designed to equip Information Officers with the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively communicate and advocate for policies and initiatives that promote the well-being and rights of children in Kano State.

He also emphasized the orientation is a vital step towards ensuring that Information Officers are well-equipped to disseminate accurate and timely information on child survival and development.

Baba Halilu Dantiye then made a call to action for the information officers to utilize the newly acquired skills and knowledge in the discharge of their duties. 

The UNICEF's Representative, Dr Ogu Enemaku, commended the commissioner for his proactive approach in reviving and strengthening the relationship that exist between the ministry and the UNICEF.

He reiterated UNICEF's commitment to working closely with the ministry to achieve the set objectives.

During the orientation program the information officers were engaged with a series of papers presented by the Director Information Alhaji inuwa Idris Yakasai and Director Special Assignment Halima Ahmad Ishaq from the Ministry of Information and Dr Ogu Enemaku and Mr Kayode Abioye from the UNICEF Kano Field Office.

Kano Correctional centre inmates receive gift items from Anglican church women wing

By Bosede Olufunmi

Inmates of Goron Dutse Medium Security Custodial Centre, have received various gift items from a Women wing of all Anglican women Osumenyi Kano state branch.

A delegation representing the church paid a visit to the custodial centre with food items, toiletries, clothing, buckets, and various types of seasons to support the inmates to promote their welfare.

Presenting the items on Saturday, Chairperson, All Anglican Women, Mrs Edna Ezike, said the gesture was their little way of supporting the inmates in the facility.

Mrs Ezike urged inmates at the centre to see their incarceration as an opportunity for self-reflection and change, hence be good ambassadors when they come out of prison.

She urged the inmates not to go back to their old ways and imbibe the fear of God in their heart, take advantage of the rehabilitation and reintegration programmes in the centre to enable them acquire life-changing skills and behaviours.

“Endeavour to utilise the skills available at the centre, we want to assure you that we are interested in your wellbeing. These items are donated to help in improving your living conditions,”she said.

Ezike said that they have been visiting prisons for the last three years to encourage and support them in their little ways they can and give them advice.

The chairperson called on parents, guardians and general public to train their wards in the way of the Lord, rather than misleading them.

She said tha prison is not a good place to be, especially when it involves the issue of youths, being future leaders and backbones to their various families.

She called on philanthropists to endeavour to visit the inmates, support and make provisions for them with necessary things to make them feel loved.

Receiving the items on behalf of the management, a staff of the Correctional Centre, who pleaded not to be named, described the gesture as timely and well-intended.

“This gesture is well appreciated by us, these items will greatly support the welfare of the inmates in this facility. We thank you immensely.’’

 (NAN)

Kano Women Affairs Ministry Collaborates With CPN, RoLAC to Organize Workshop on Child Protection Law

By Farouk Musa Isa 

Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Disabled, in partnership with the Child Protection Network (CPN) and with the support of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) II Program, has successfully organized a 2-day workshop for Child Protection Law Implementation Committee (CPIC) aimed at developing an actionable plan and mobilizing resources for the implementation of the Child Protection Law.

According to a press statement issued by Musbahu Aminu Yakasai Deputy Director Internal Affairs at State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs the workshop, held at BON Hotel Lafiya Road,Kano, focused on strengthening the protection of children in Kano State by formulating a comprehensive action plan and ensuring effective resource mobilization to support the initiative.

In her special remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children, and Disabled, Hajiya Aisha Lawan Saji, highlighted key pillars that will guide the committee in developing the action plan, including Collaboration and Inclusivity, an Evidence-Based Approach, Resource Mobilization, Capacity Building, and Monitoring and Evaluation. 

She emphasized the unwavering commitment of the current administration, led by Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, which is evident in the substantial budgetary allocation for child protection programs.

Hajiya Aisha Saji appreciated the partners, specifically RoLAC II Programme, implemented by the International IDEA and other stakeholders for their immense effort towards fostering a common cause.

On his part, the State Coordinator of RoLAC II, Ibrahim Bello, expressed his gratitude to the Kano State Government for passing the Child Protection Law and acknowledged the significant roles played by various stakeholders, particularly the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and the State House of Assembly. 

He noted that RoLAC II played a pivotal role in the domestication of the law and is now supporting the action planning and resource mobilization workshop to ensure the successful implementation of the law.

Bello further reiterated RoLAC II’s commitment to continuing its collaboration with the Ministry to enhance access to justice for vulnerable groups in society, including women, children, and persons living with disabilities and called on the Kano State Government to fully support the implementation committee to achieve its objectives.

This workshop marks a significant step towards ensuring the safety, well-being, and protection of children in Kano State. 

The Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Disabled, and its partners remain dedicated to safeguarding the rights of children and advancing child protection initiatives.

KWAMITIN BIBIYA NA DMCSA YA KAI ZIYARAR GANI-DA-IDO RUMBUNAN ADANA MAGUNGUNA NA SHIYYOYI

Daga Farouk Isa Musa 

A kokarin tabbatar da wadatuwar magungunan a asibitocin jihar nan, jami'an Hukumar Samar da Magunguna da Kayan Asibiti ta Jihar Kano sun kai ziyarar aiki zuwa rumbunan adana magunguna na shiyyar Gaya da Rano da Dambatta da kuma Gwarzo.

Darakta-Janar na hukumar ta DMCSA Famasist Gali Sule, ta bakin Jami'in Hulda da Jama'a na ma'aikatar Farouk Isa Musa, ya ce sun kai ziyarar ne don ganewa idanunuwansu yanda ayyuka suke gudana a shiyyoyin guda 4.

Famasist Gali Sule ya kara da cewa ziyarar tana da matukar muhimmanci, domin a lokacin ziyarar ne ake fahimtar nasarori da aka samu, da kuma irin kalubale da rumbunan adana magunguna na shiyyoyi ke fuskanta.

Bugu da kari, Famasist Gali Sule ya ce jami'an ma'aikatar suna kai irin wannan ziyarar gani-da-ido daga lokaci zuwa lokaci don tabbatar da komai yana tafiya kamar yanda ya kamata.

Daga nan sai ya jaddada kudirin gwamnatin jihar Kano karkashin jagorancin Gwamna Abba Kabir Yusuf na samar da wadatattu kuma ingantattun magunguna masu rahusa a dukkanin asibitocin da ke jihar nan.

A karshe, Darakta-Janar na Hukumar Samar da Magunguna ta Jihar nan ya yi kira ga ma'aikatan hukumar da su kasance masu gaskiya da rikon amana a yayin gabatar da ayyukansu domin samun al'umma mai cike da koshin lafiya, wanda hakan zai samar da cigba mai dorewa.

Kano Moves to Halt Diversion of Drugs, Consumables in State-owned Hospitals

By Farouk Isa Musa 

The Kano State Government said measures have been put in place to stop the diversion of drugs and medical consumables in state-owned medical facilities across its 44 Local Government Areas.

The Director-General, Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumable Supply Agency, Gali Sule, said this in Kano on Wednesday.

Mr Sule said the action was to alert the public to the development.

He said the agency had serious challenges with some of its facilities where health workers divert commodities, particularly drugs and consumables.

He warned perpetrators, whom he described as “unpatriotic” to desist from such practices or be ready to face the consequences.

According to him, the unpatriotic workers get the commodities at cheaper prices, but instead of allowing patients to buy at affordable rates, direct them to premises outside for their gains.

He said, “The affordability we aim to achieve with the patients is being sabotaged by some unpatriotic workers in some of our facilities. We have a strong monitoring mechanism, and once you are caught, you will face the wrath of the law in accordance with the civil service law of the state. We have strengthened issues of transparency and accountability under our drug revolving funds policy, where whoever is in charge of medical stores, warehouses or pharmacies must account for whatever transactions he conducted every quarter.

“Where there is a gap, whoever is in charge, be he a storekeeper or pharmacist, must be held responsible for the gap and other necessary sanctions to be taken. I can confidently inform you that we have improved our supply and availability of drugs in our hospitals. The agency embarked on sourcing for qualitative and affordable drugs among other medical consumables which are supplied and distributed across the state hospitals, thus bringing to an end the threat of fake and substandard drugs in our public hospitals.’’

The DG said 855 facilities in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare access products from the agency.

He added that the agency trained and capitalised 56 additional facilities, making it 911 that access the agency’s drugs and consumables.

He stated, “The agency will soon inaugurate its own pharma-grade warehouse to store various types of drugs in cold and moderate temperatures. Standards for storage of drugs have been put in place to maintain its quality throughout and also storage pillow has been provided at the warehouse. One of the advantages the state will derive from this warehouse is that some commodities coming from the national to the state need to go through Sokoto pharma-grade warehouse, from either Abuja or Lagos. Our facilities don’t get supply because we don’t have a pharma-grade warehouse in Kano and it’s such a lengthy protocol.

“When we now have our own, the process will be shortened, hence reducing the cost of transportation and security risks related to traveling from Kano through Zamfara and Sokoto states.

(NAN)

Inter-Departmental Synergy, Key to Operational Success -- DG KSACA

By Farouk I. Musa 

The Director General Kano State Agency for the Control of Aids (SACA) Dr. Usman Bashir has called on the staff of the agency to always work in synergy in order to achieve the desired outcome, stressing that without proper collaboration among themselves, achieving the set goals may seem to be farfetched.

The DG made the charged while chairing the "2025 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) Engagement Meeting," as contained in a press statement issued to journalists by Usman Datti, Public Relations Officer of the agency.

Dr. Bashir emphasized the importance of interdepartmental collaboration and encouraged continued open communication to ensure seamless implementation of the AOPs.

The AOP meeting is a comprehensive presentation session where staff members were categorized into departmental groups, and they should showcase their planned activities for the coming year.

Shading more light on the meeting, Dr. Bashir said, "The AOP presentations is an indication of talent, dedication, and teamwork that defined the agency's effort towards achieving strategic goals in the year 2025.

"The presentations also focused on various aspects, including departmental objectives aligned with the state government goals, strategic initiatives and action plans to achieve the world target of eliminating the scourge by 2030," he added.

Speaking on the general performance of the staffers during the events, the DG said the efforts they made undoubtedly demonstrated the organization's commitment to collaborative planning and strategic goal achievement.

During the meeting, all departmental groups and units, presented their AOPs, outlining key objectives, initiatives, and performance indicators. The Director-General commended the teams on their thorough preparations and innovative approaches.

CHRICED Advocates Community Participation for Sustainable Rural Development

By Zainab Olufunmi

Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, the Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civil Education (CHRICED) has identified Community participation has as an effective driver of rural development.

Zikirullahi, spoke on Thursday at a training organised for Media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on transparency, accountability in constituency projects service delivery in Kano.

“The sense of belonging to the federal and state in most communities is through constituency projects, hence they need be involved to ensure execution to the latter and specifications.

“Lack of involvement of the communities in the initiation of constituency projects seems to affect its proper implementation.

“The communities need to participate from its initiation and implementation stages to enhance sustainable development.

“Most of the time, those saddled to execute constituency projects do not seek the input of the benefiting communities before initiation and implementation; and that’s why some of the projects are not sustainable.

“More so, government presence in most communities is through constituency projects, giving the communities hope and a sense of belonging.

He said that the media and CSOs need to work closely by shining a spotlight on constituency projects, especially programmes on which the government expends public funds.

He noted that resources allocated for constituency projects, are meant to touch the lives of ordinary citizens at community levels.

He said that, “every kobo allocated to both state and federal levels should be well utilised to deliver devidend of democracy.

“We should therefore follow up, track and report any corrupt practices within the implementation of constituency project in Kano state.

“There is no need to rest on oars, efforts need to be put more in service delivery to ensure that politicians at the community levels do not squander our money.

“In 2022 our centre record a huge success, we were selected by the ICPC among the few organisations to join them in tracking some of the constituency projects.

“We made sure that some contractors that abandoned their constituency projects return to site and some have been completed and delivered,”he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that papers were presented on various ways to monitor constituency projects implementation, among others. (NAN)