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Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano Under the soft glow of newly installed solar systems and the hum of irrigation pumps ready for work, communities across Dawakin-Tofa, Tofa, and Rimin Gado Federal Constituency experienced a tangible demonstration of development-driven leadership as Engr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje took a decisive step toward transforming local livelihoods. The Executive Director of Technical Services at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Engr. Ganduje, handed over solar-powered irrigation pumps to 120 young farmers and solar energy systems to 160 Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) during a Sunday evening empowerment programme in Kano. The initiative benefited a total of 280 constituents and is designed to tackle the twin challenges of unreliable electricity and seasonal agricultural productivity. According to a statement issued by Edwin Olofu, media aide to the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairperson of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the intervention aligns with national efforts to expand renewable energy access and promote grassroots economic growth. At the event, Engr. Ganduje emphasized that the initiative was driven by the need to provide sustainable solutions for rural entrepreneurs and farmers struggling with high energy costs and seasonal farming limitations. “Each SME received a solar system of about 1.2 kilowatts to enable uninterrupted business operations, reduce reliance on fuel-powered generators, and lower operating costs. The irrigation pumps will allow farmers to cultivate crops all year, improving food security and income stability,” he said. Read Also: Nigeria Must Integrate Innovation, Policy, and Research for Growth — Bindir Pantami, Bugaje Call for Skills Reform, Energy Solutions at BUK Engineering Conference Empowering Hope: How Dr. Mariya Bunkure’s Kano Initiative Reached Over 4,000 Lives He highlighted that the solar systems would support businesses including barbing salons, tailoring workshops, POS services, computer centres, and other small enterprises, noting: “When small businesses thrive, communities grow. Strengthening SMEs remains a proven pathway to economic development, and countries that achieved sustainable growth did so by empowering small businesses at the grassroots.” The programme also complements President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in renewable energy deployment, youth empowerment, and human capital development. In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Muhammad Bello Butu-Butu, described the initiative as timely and impactful, noting that it would directly improve livelihoods and reduce economic hardship among youths in the constituency. He further urged party members to maintain unity in advancing development-oriented initiatives. Similarly, the Chairman of Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area, Hon. Anas Dan Maliki, commended the programme and pledged to explore similar empowerment schemes at the local government level to strengthen grassroots development. Beneficiaries welcomed the intervention with visible appreciation. Business centre operator Sulaiman Dan Sudu noted that the solar equipment would significantly boost productivity and cut operating costs, while tailor Maman Talatu described the support as a relief from persistent power outages that had long hindered her work.

By Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano Kano witnessed a remarkable convergence of leadership, compassion, and grassroots empowerment on Friday, February 7, 2026, as the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, rolled out a mega empowerment programme that benefited over 4,000 women leaders and vulnerable citizens across the state’s 44 local government areas. The programme, which underscored the growing emphasis on inclusive governance and human-centred development, was ceremonially launched by Professor Hafsat Umar Ganduje, who played an elder’s role at the event. The Minister engaged beneficiaries and stakeholders in what many described as a moment of renewed hope and social solidarity. Designed as more than a welfare intervention, the empowerment initiative was framed as a strategic effort to restore dignity, unlock economic potential, and strengthen grassroots participation, particularly among women who serve as mobilisers, peacemakers, and agents of community stability. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Bunkure commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in Kano State, with special praise for the party’s women leaders, whose resilience and organisational strength, she noted, have deepened democratic participation and sustained grassroots engagement over the years. She stressed that the programme was not merely about distributing items, but about creating pathways to sustainable livelihoods, ensuring that vulnerable groups are not left behind in Nigeria’s development journey. According to her, empowering women and marginalised citizens remains one of the most effective tools for achieving long-term social and economic stability. The empowerment items distributed reflected a broad-based approach to economic inclusion. Beneficiaries received cars, motorcycles, tricycles for persons with disabilities, sewing machines, grinding machines, fertilisers for farmers, bags of rice and flour, spaghetti-making machines, and cash support as business capital resources carefully selected to address diverse livelihood needs. Participants drawn from urban and rural communities alike described the intervention as timely and impactful, noting that it would not only improve household incomes but also strengthen community resilience. The programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which places emphasis on economic empowerment, poverty reduction, and people-focused governance. For many observers, the Kano event stood as a practical demonstration of how national policy objectives can translate into tangible benefits at the grassroots. As the gathering drew to a close, the atmosphere reflected more than gratitude, it spoke to a shared belief that inclusive empowerment, when thoughtfully executed, can become a catalyst for lasting development.

By Aminu Lawal Hussein Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un! Hajiya Umma Lawal Dodo, our woman of substance, returned to her Lord on the 7th of February 2026 in Cairo after a long illness, at the age of 52. She was born on 2nd February 1974 in Kano, where her journey of faith, learning, service, and love began and blossomed. From her earliest days, it was clear that Umma was not an ordinary soul; she carried within her a rare combination of strength, compassion, and quiet dignity that touched everyone who crossed her path. Born and raised in Kano, she began her education in the city that shaped much of her character and outlook on life. She attended her nursery and primary school in Kano, before moving on to Taura Girls Secondary School in Jigawa, where she continued to distinguish herself with discipline, intelligence, and focus. Her passion for justice and fairness led her to study Law at Bayero University Kano, Nigeria, a choice that reflected the values she lived by: integrity, responsibility, and a deep sense of right and wrong. Professionally, Umma Lawal built a career that mirrored her commitment to public service and ethical conduct. She worked with the Kano Anti-Corruption body, standing firmly on the side of accountability and justice. She later served in the banking sector with Union Bank and Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank), where her honesty, hard work, and reliability earned her the respect of colleagues and clients alike. Eventually, she transitioned into the world of academia, joining Northwest University, Kano, as a non-teaching staff member. Through dedication and perseverance, she rose to the position of Chief Registrar, a role in which she continued to serve with humility, professionalism, and grace. Beyond her achievements on paper, it is the story of her heart that truly defines who she was. In the family, she was not just Umma Lawal, she was our beloved “Anty Umma.” To call her a sister, an aunt, or a relative feels too small; she was a pillar, a shelter, and a source of strength to us all. She married Alhaji Garba Aliyu Hungu, and together they built a home rooted in love, respect, and mutual support. Read Also: 2025 in Memoriam: Nigerians and Global Icons Who Left a Lasting Legacy Anty Umma was a woman who loved beyond the normal boundaries people set for themselves. She carried everyone in her heart, her mother, her siblings, her extended family, and even those who were not related by blood but became family through her kindness. She worked round the clock to support her mother and siblings, always putting others before herself, always asking, “How can I help?” long before thinking of her own comfort. That is why I call her a woman of substance: because her life was not defined by what she had, but by what she gave. Although Allah, in His infinite wisdom, did not grant her biological children of her own, He placed in her the heart of a mother. All the children in the family saw Anty Umma as their mother; they all call her MAMI, a safe place to run to, a voice of guidance, a hand of support, and a lap of comfort. She attended to their needs, celebrated their successes, corrected them with love, and prayed for them with sincerity. To the younger ones, she was a role model. To the older ones, she was a dependable anchor. To her peers, she was a true friend. To her mother and siblings, she was a blessing that cannot be replaced. Illness tested her body, but it did not break her spirit. Even in times of pain, she remained patient, composed, and surrendered to the will of Allah. She faced her trials with the same quiet strength that she used to carry the burdens of others. Her life reminds us that true honour is not in how long we live, but in how deeply we touch the lives of others while we are here. Today, as we mourn her passing, our hearts are heavy, and the loss feels impossible to describe. We have lost a daughter, a wife, a sister, an aunt, a colleague, a guide, and a friend. But we also know that Allah does not take anything except to give something better, and that the soul that lived in service, sincerity, and compassion will find its reward with Him. In the midst of this fresh and painful loss, our hearts are also drawn to the loved ones we have recently returned to Allah from the same family. We remember with deep sorrow and gratitude our beloved mother, Hajiya Aisha (fondly known as Anty Iya), who passed away on 21 December 2024, our dear uncle, Alhaji Aminu Hussein (Abbaaah), who left us on 18 February 2025, and our elder brother, Alhaji Kabir Elhussein, who returned to his Lord on 24 August 2025. Each of them was a pillar in their own way, and their departures, followed now by that of our cherished Anty Umma, have created a chain of grief that only Allah can help us bear. Yet, even in this succession of losses, we find comfort in knowing that they lived lives of love, service, and faith, and we pray that Allah, in His infinite mercy, reunites them all in Jannatul Firdaus and grants us the strength to remain steadfast and patient. On behalf of the family, and as her uncle, I, Aminu Lawal Hussein, offer this tribute with love and deep respect for the beautiful life she lived. Words will never be enough to capture the fullness of who she was, but we pray that these lines bear witness to her goodness in this world and become a means of mercy for her in the next. We pray: Ya Allah, forgive your servant, Umma Lawal Dodo. Have mercy on her, overlook her shortcomings, and accept all her good deeds. Make her grave a garden from the gardens of Jannah. Grant her light, comfort,