Katsina

The Katsina State Government, on Tuesday, distributed wheelchairs and learning kits to at least 500 out-of-school children in the state. In a speech at the launch of the distribution of the items in Katsina, Gov. Dikko Radda said the gesture aimed towards reducing the out-of-school children, and increasing school enrollment. Radda, represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mamman-Nasir, said that the event affirmed his administration’s commitment to education and the wellbeing of children in the state. Read Also: NGO promotes inclusive peacebuilding in Katsina via stakeholders’ training He said: “From the outset of this administration, we made it clear that the education of our children will remain a top priority. “We believe that no society can progress without investing in its young people, and no child should be denied access to learning because of poverty or circumstance. “Education and the wellbeing of our children are indeed the main concern of this government. “Today’s event, where 500 pupils are being taken back to school, is part of our ongoing efforts to make education accessible and inclusive.” The governor said that the kits being distributed, which included uniforms, sandals and essential writing materials, are intended to encourage regular school attendance and boost the confidence of the pupils as they return to the classroom. He also said that the Department of Girl Children Education and Child Development in charge of the distribution was also extending support to the school for the blind, through the provision of writing materials, ensuring that education remains truly inclusive in the state. “This initiative builds upon earlier successes recorded by the department, including the enrollment of 1,395 children into formal education in 2024, in collaboration with UNICEF. “These achievements reflect the values of our administration, compassion, inclusion and opportunity for all. “We will continue to invest in policies and programmes that promote learning, protect children and support teachers in delivering quality education,” the governor said. Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Girl Child Education, Hajiya Jamila Abdu-Mani, said the event “marked another milestone in our collective effort to ensure that every child in the state had access to education. “The distribution of the learning materials aims to support the children’s learning journey and ease the financial burden on their families. “We’re also distributing materials to Kasina State School for the Blind, in line with our commitment to inclusive education and equal opportunity for all learners. “This programme builds upon the remarkable progress our department has made in the past year, especially the enrollment of 1,395 out-of-school, achieved due to the political will of Gov. Radda. “Education is the most powerful tool we can give our children to break the cycle of poverty and scale their dignity,” Abdu-Mani said. (NAN)

The Gender Awareness Trust (GAT), with support from Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) project, has organised a 3-day training for stakeholders on inclusive peace-building in Katsina. The GAT Programme Manager, Mrs Sophie Akut, during the training in Katsina on Wednesday, said the exercise is also in collaboration with Tetra Tech International Development. The initiative funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has been implemented by GAT in Katsina and Kaduna States since June this year. Read Also: Stakeholders push for inclusive education in Katsina According to her, the Building Inclusive Peace Project (BIP Project), implemented in Katsina and Kaduna States, is designed to strengthen community-based peace-building structures. She added that the project aimed to also promote social and gender-inclusive approaches, and drive effective implementation of Women Peace and Security (WPS) frameworks. “Our overall project goal is to foster inclusive and sustainable peace in both states, by strengthening community resilience, enhancing gender-responsive conflict prevention, and promoting coordinated action among key stakeholders for security, peace and justice. “To strengthen community-led conflict prevention mechanisms to enhance local capacity for peace-building, is also one of our specific objectives. “Others include promoting women’s participation, leadership and gender-inclusive strategies in peace building and conflict prevention,” she said. Akut stated that others are to drive the effective implementation of WPS policies by mobilising key stakeholders, including government, traditional leaders, and civil society. The programmes manager listed other goals as, “to enhance coordination, partnerships, and accountability among security agencies, policymakers, and community actors for more efficient and impactful WPS interventions. “To establish robust project management and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) frameworks that ensures timely delivery, continuous learning, and adaptive management of project activities. Akut explained that the 10-month project also adopted community-centered participation, gender transformative policy institutional alignment and multi-stakeholder collaboration approaches. She revealed that the training also targeted to strengthen knowledge and skills on gender, inclusive peace-building, conflict prevention, and early warning. According to her, it also aimes to enhance capacity for advocacy and stakeholder engagement in promoting peace-building. (NAN)

Stakeholders in Mashi and Musawa Local Government Areas of Katsina on Tuesday pledged to ensure female children have equal access to learning as their male siblings. They also committed to promoting inclusive education for children with special needs during separate awareness campaigns held in their communities. The campaigns were organised by Save the Children International (SCI) in collaboration with GoalPrime Nigeria, through the Education Cannot Wait First Emergency Response (ECW-FER) funded project. Mashi Council Chairman, Alhaji Salisu Kallah, stressed the need for parents to give their daughters equal opportunities with sons in terms of education. Read Also: Kano Govt Suspends Sheikh Lawan Triumph From Preaching KEBRAM empowers 500 Katsina youth with IT skills Ganduje: A Resilient Political Survivor Facing Image Wars He said female education benefits both families and communities, noting that a girl supported through schooling could later provide vital services, such as in health care. Kallah urged rural parents to allow their daughters to attend school, assuring them that the council is ready to provide necessary support. On disability inclusion, he said children with special needs are also Nigerians and deserve full educational opportunities despite their limitations. He explained that disability does not mean inability, but lack of opportunity and support, adding that the council had appointed persons with disabilities to various positions. District Head of Mashi, Iyan Katsina, Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim, commended SCI’s efforts, saying the Emirate was fully in support of the project. Represented by Village Head of Sabuwar Rijiya, Alhaji Lawal Yusuf-Majigiri, Ibrahim emphasised the importance of enrolling children with special needs in schools. He argued such children could be more intelligent than their peers, and denying them education amounts to violating their rights. He noted the project had significantly improved school enrolment in their communities, particularly among children with special needs. Similarly, District Head of Musawa, Alhaji Sagir Abdullahi-Inde, said the campaign aimed to sensitise the public on girl-child education and the rights of children with special needs. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Abdullahi-Inde was represented by Wakilin Magajin Gari, Malam Ibrahim Sani. SCI Programme Manager, Mrs Atine Lewi, said the organisation had assessed about 500 children with special needs, supporting 350, but aimed to reach 3,200 children in both areas. She added that SCI had conducted end-line tests under its Alternative Learning Centre and procured 500 learning kits for the children. Lewi noted that many schools lack ramps, and many children assessed required wheelchairs. She lamented mobility challenges, saying schools remain inaccessible without ramps.(NAN)

A non-profit organisation, KEBRAM Information Technology, has trained 500 youth from Katsina Local Government Area on Python programming and cyber security. During the two-day training in Katsina, KEBRAM’s Chief Executive Officer, Malam Kabir Kabir-Ibrahim, said the firm has empowered youth for over a decade. Represented by Ishaq Siraj, Kabir-Ibrahim said the firm had supported youth across the state in computer training and paying examination fees for students. Read Also: Bandit Kingpin Frees 40 Kidnap Victims in Katsina, Warns of Return to Violence He added that KEBRAM also runs a Cisco Academy, training students in networking courses, with some graduates currently employed in Saudi Arabia. Kabir-Ibrahim explained that among the recent trainees, some would be selected after their examinations to join the Cisco Academy for advanced courses. The firm’s Coordinator, Ahmed Salisu-Abdu, described the training as a philanthropic gesture, with Katsina Local Government serving as a partner in the initiative. Salisu-Abdu said the skills acquired would benefit the trainees, their families, the state, and Nigeria, especially in today’s competitive world. “These are highly marketable courses,” he said, noting the rise in global cyber-attacks and stressing the value of training youth to become experts. One participant, Abdurrahaman Ibrahim-Tahir, expressed gratitude for being selected, saying IT skills are crucial in the digital era regardless of academic background. “I studied sociology, but IT skills are essential today. Without them, you risk becoming obsolete. I’m thankful the training was free,” he said. Another participant, Asiya Tanimu, said the knowledge would boost her businesses, allowing many others to benefit. She expressed deep gratitude to the organisers. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the training, five participants won ₦10,000 each in a quiz, while six others won ₦5,000 each. (NAN)

A notorious bandit leader, Isya Kwashen Garwa, has released 40 kidnap victims in Katsina State, but warned that his group may return to violence if the government fails to address alleged killings by security operatives. The hostages were freed in Faskari Local Government Area during what local officials described as part of an ongoing peace dialogue with Garwa’s fighters. The development follows the release of 30 captives earlier in the week, bringing the total number of freed victims to about 70. In a video statement, Garwa put the figure at 72, explaining that two people had been released earlier in addition to Wednesday’s 30 and the latest 40. He insisted the releases were tied to assurances made during a peace meeting in Faskari, not as a result of pressure from security forces. Read Also: 15 Drown, 3 Missing as Villagers Flee Bandit Attack in Zamfara “You have seen that these people were released because of the promises we made during the peace pact meeting in Faskari,” Garwa said at the handover. “They were not all in one location. I was instructed to go into the bush to ensure all kidnapped victims were released, and I am still trying to gather everyone who was kidnapped.” However, the bandit leader accused security operatives of attacking his community in Ruwan-Godiya on Friday, alleging that both his men and Hausa civilians were killed in the raid. “Security operatives went to meet our people and shot them. It was not only our people — Hausa people were affected too. They killed men, women, and children, and took property, including motorcycles,” he claimed. Garwa warned that the alleged killings could derail the fragile truce: “If you do not take decisive action, we will return to our previous fighting. If things worsen, you will tell the world that we violated the promises we made,” he declared. The release of the hostages marks the latest outcome of months of negotiations between armed groups and community leaders in parts of northwestern Nigeria, where kidnappings and violence continue to unsettle rural communities. (Platinum Post)

The Minister of Health, Dr Ali Pate, has celebrated the immediate past Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, Dr Bello Suleiman, for successful completion of his tenure. Pate, who spoke through Dr Abdulmajid Umar, an official from the minister’s office, said that Suleiman has put the hospital on a right path, and urged the incoming CMD to work hard in sustaining his good leadership. He stated this during a reception organised in honour of Suleiman in Katsina on Monday, by the state’s chapter of the Hambali Family Union, after his tenure as the CMD. Read Also: AKTH, KEDCO Resolve Electricity Supply Dispute According to Pate, during his eighth years as the CMD, Suleiman has facilitated various developments, uplifting the standard of the hospital. He said:“It’s a well known fact that Suleiman has brought a number of developments to the hospital, which makes it to be the best among its contemporaries.” In a remark, the Ajiyan Katsina, who is also a member of the Hambali family, Alhaji Lamis Dikko, observed that health institutions in Nigeria need committed people like Suleiman. Also, member representing Katsina constituency at the state assembly, Alhaji Ali Abu-Albaba, congratulated the family for having sons and daughters who excelled in their various fields of endeavours. Responding, Suleiman expressed gratitude to the family over the honour, attributing his success as the CMD to the support and cooperation he enjoyed from the staff of the hospital. He commended the organisers, the state government, the assembly member representing Katsina for their unwavering support, and urged them to extend similar cooperation to the incoming CMD. (NAN)

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has restated his administration’s commitment to the creation of state police as part of efforts to confront Nigeria’s worsening security challenges. Speaking on Tuesday, September 2, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a courtesy visit by prominent Katsina indigenes led by Governor Dikko Radda, the president said the federal government is determined to tackle banditry and other threats head-on. READ ALSO: Kano Govt Clarifies Position on Elders Council, Reaffirms Commitment to Advisory Body Tinubu disclosed that security agencies have been directed to reassess their operations in Katsina, where bandit attacks have spiked in recent months. He further revealed that advanced military equipment, including drones and surveillance technology, would soon be deployed to strengthen counter-insurgency efforts in the state. The president also announced that the capacity of newly recruited forest guards would be expanded, noting that they are expected to play a vital role in protecting vulnerable communities. “The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it,” Tinubu said. He added: “I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and review strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones. I am reviewing all aspects of security. I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us.” The president recalled that in February 2024, the federal government inaugurated a committee to develop a framework for state policing. While the initiative has received widespread support, Vice-President Kashim Shettima disclosed in March that 20 states were yet to submit their reports. Tinubu also paid tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari, assuring the delegation that his legacy would be preserved. “The time we lost our brother, President Buhari, is a loss for all of us. It is the will of God Almighty, but he has left in a good way. He didn’t hand over a defeated country or a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, and that is the most important thing,” he said. Governor Radda, in his remarks, expressed gratitude for the president’s consistent support, noting that Tinubu had always responded to his requests. Former Governor Aminu Masari and Ibrahim Ida, the Wazirin of Katsina, also commended Tinubu for honouring Buhari and investing in infrastructure. Ida, however, urged the federal government to prioritise the upgrading of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and intensify security operations in southern Katsina.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), has unveiled strategies to address the disturbing issue of extreme students’ graduation ceremonies by secondary school students and tertiary institutions in Katsina. The NOA Director-General, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, revealed this while addressing journalists in Katsina on Tuesday, to flag-off campaign on the Federal Government’s policies. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Issa-Onilu, was represented at the event by Mr John Bala, the Director, Reform Coordination and Service at the NOA headquarters, Abuja. Read Also: Kano Govt Clarifies Position on Elders Council, Reaffirms Commitment to Advisory Body “The agency is focusing on national value re-orientation campaigns and sensitisation against extreme graduation practices which do not align with our values. “During graduation ceremonies, students even try to force their parents to contribute money and some of these students go extra miles against our noble norms. “You’ll see some even going naked, drinking alcohol, cigarettes, some are even cutting themselves, all in the name of graduation. “Therefore, we feel this is contrary to our noble values of discipline and honesty. So, we feel we should carry this campaign so that we educate not only parents but also schools,” he said. The director-general identified other areas of the campaign to include; the Nigerian Identity and National Symbols sensitisation, aimed at familiarising the public with the current National Anthem, unity and patriotism. “These campaigns will also promote adherence to right attitude towards National Symbols: the National Flag, the Naira, the Nigerian Passport among other things. “The campaigns will be carried out through press conferences, town hall meetings, advocacy visits, visitation to schools, traditional rulers, motor parks and markets. “Campaign will be conducted in the 36 states of the federation, FCT and 774 Local Government Areas (LGA) across Nigeria,” Issa-Onilu revealed. The D-G explained that in recent times, the agency had expanded its messaging platforms to meet the diverse requirements of their equally diverse audience demography. He stated that this approach in various communities was aimed at enabling members of the public to speak their minds to government, ask questions and get answers on programmes and policies of government that require further clarity. “In this third quarter nationwide sensitisation exercise, we shall be engaging the public to further understand policies of government, especially government students’ loan (NELFUND), and Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT). “Other areas include; National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Flooding and Disaster Preparedness, National Security Awareness, and Presidential Flood Mitigation,” he said. (NAN)