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General news

Gov. El-rufa’i eulogies Deputy, Hadiza Balarabe

By Moses Kolo
Eulogy
Kafanchan (Kaduna State), Nov. 10, 2019 (NAN) Gov. Nasir El-rufa’i of Kaduna State has eulogised his Deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, describing her a super star and one of great capacity for leadership.

El-rufa’i spoke as Special Guest of Honour on Saturday during a Grand Reception in honour of the deputy governor at the New Choice Auditorium, Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Are
A of the state.

He said the honour done to his deputy was a well deserved one, adding, “she is not just celebrated today because she is a woman and a deputy governor but because she’s super smart and has great capacity.

“We shall pursue our mandate this time around with great vigour moreso that we have considered her track record.

“Peaceful coexistence and our unity in diversity are our greatest strength.

“Our responsibility is to unite all indigenes of Kaduna State toward a common ground for all and sundry to thrive,” he said.

The deputy governor and chief celebrant said she was pleased to have been considered worthy of the position reposed on her.

Mrs Balarabe urged the people to remain peace ambassadors so that the next generation would be glad of the examples laid by their predecessors, adding “we are changing the narrative and moving forward”.

She particularly expressed gratitude to El-rufa’i for the trust and confidence reposed on her, saying “I cherish this great privilege and promise to do my very best not to let you down”.

Prof. Kabiru Mato, the Chairman of the Organising Committee and Kaduna State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, had earlier commended the presence of the governor, noting that his presence gave the Southern Kaduna a sense of belonging.

In a goodwill message by Sen. Uba Sani (APC-Kaduna Central) commended El-rufa’i for recognising the qualities of Hadiza, adding that “the sense of unity displayed by participants at this occasion is a demonstration that we are ready to move the state forward”.

Rep. Nicholas Garba (PDP-Jema’a/Sanga) also in his goodwill message acknowledged the governing style of El-rufa’i, describing it as uncommon.

“The Governor’s choice of his deputy no doubt can not be questioned as he never compromise excellence,” the lawmaker said.

Garba however urged the governor to consider the plight of the people by extending Infrastructural development to the Southern part of the state particularly road construction to ease transportation and boost economic development.

On his part, Alhaji Muhammad Isa Muhammad, the Emir of Jema’a who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers, commended the organisers as well as the celebrant.

Muhammad said the honour was well deserved, adding “it is our believe that Dr Hadiza will not disappoint the governor on the confidence reposed on her”. (NAN)
MGK/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Education

Kaduna Govt spends N3bn annually on pupils school fees – el-Rufa’i

Kaduna Govt spends N3bn annually on pupils school fees – el-Rufa’i
By Mohammed Lawal
Fees
Zaria (Kaduna State), Dec. 8, 2018 (NAN) Gov. Nasiru el-Rufa’i of Kaduna State on Saturday said his government was spending N3 billion on payment of school fees for pupils from primary to junior secondary schools across the state.
He stated this at the 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Zaria Education Development Association (ZEDA) held at Barewa College, Zaria, Kaduna state.
El-Rufa’i, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs and Special Services, Alhaji Adamu Mansir, said: “Our aim when we came as government was to ensure that basic education is truly free in Kaduna State public schools.
“Now for girls it is free all through in the first 12 years of school up to completion of Senior Secondary School and by abolishing the fees and levies, we have saved parents in Kaduna State over N3 billion every year.
“We have been providing uniforms, raised quality of meals in boarding schools and in some elected secondary schools we are running a pilot programme that involves giving students computer tablets instead of printed text books.”
He said 15,000 students mostly girls were slated in the pilot scheme in the use of computer tablets, noting that their performance had significantly improved.
The governor said having completed the recruitment of more primary school teachers government had begun the recruitment of 7,600 secondary school teachers in addition to the 2,200 English, Mathematics and Science subjects.
The Chairperson of the occasion and former Chief Judge of Kaduna State, Justice Rahila Cudjoe, lauded the giant stride of ZEDA directed at educational development in Zazzau Emirate.
According to her, this is a testimony that Kaduna State remains the centre of learning not only in the North but also across the nation.
She charged the association to keep the flag flying to enable other indigent students benefit from what she described as societal development project.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Central Working Committee (CWC), Dr Alimi Bello, said: “Your presence here signifies your commitment to the development of education in our locality.
“ZEDA remained focused on its vision and mission of continuously being a model and reference point as the leading educational NGO thereby creating opportunities for indigenes of Zazzau to attain their full educational potentials for the last 26 years.’’
He observed that the occasion of AGM in the last 26 years provided them opportunity to rub minds and share ideas towards attaining desired goals and objectives.
Bello urged all delegates to make meaningful contributions at the AGM towards achieving a successful, progressive and fruitful outcome. (NAN)
KLM/ASS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Water project: Zaria residents laud El-Rufa’i gigantic efforts

Water project: Zaria residents laud El-Rufa’i

NAN-HG-9

Water

By Mohammed Lawal

Zaria (Kaduna State), May 26, 2017 (NAN) Residents of Zaria and its environs have lauded Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State for completing the Zaria water project.

The project has suffered neglect and under funding for over 28 years.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the project started in 1988 during the tenure of late Brig-Gen. Tanko Ayuba as military governor of the state.

About nine successive governors were unable to actualise the project, until the present administration.

Speaking in separate interviews, the residents expressed satisfaction with the completion of the project.

A resident of Zaria-city, Malam Ibrahim Mohammed, said his joy know no bounds over the completion of the project.

He cited areas like Anguwan Iya, Kan Fage, Limanci, Kusfa, Marmara, Anguwan Karfe, Anguwan Nufawa, Salmanduna, Anguwan Bishar and Kofar Gayan Low-Cost, among others, as the worst hit by water scarcity.

“I can authoritatively tell you that an adult of 25 years of age cannot tell anything about tap water, because he or she knew nothing about it.

“This is because tap water had not been running in these areas for over 25 years now.

“If is true that this project is completed and will be commissioned tomorrow, this government had done everything for us,” Mohammed said.

Another resident of the area, Malam Mohammed Shamsuddeen, said: “I have a brother who is now about 30 years of age but could not actually tell where our tap is.

“As I am talking to you now, our children do not know tap water, they can only talk about borehole,” he said.

Shamsuddeen said their families used to go as far as five kilometres to fetch water for domestic use.

On his part, Mr Mohammed Dalhatu, also from Zaria-city, appreciated the efforts of the present administration, saying “it is just like a dream’’.

Narrating the difficulties experienced by residents, Dalhatu said their children sometimes missed their school just because of fetching water.

He prayed God Almighty to enable them witness the actualisation of the project and benefit from it.

Similarly, a housewife, Hajiya Hadiza Hassan of Sabongari, said the joy was not only for the people of Zaria city alone but for the entire people of Zazzau emirate.

She noted that their experience of water scarcity for more than 10 years now would now become history. (NAN)

KLM/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Kaduna Govt trains health workers to eradicate malnutrition

Kaduna Govt trains health workers to eradicate malnutrition

NAN-HG-5
Malnutrition
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), May 16, 2017 (NAN) The Kaduna State Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) has commenced train-the-trainer programme to eradicate malnutrition in the state, an official has said.

Hajiya Ummi El-Rufa’i, wife to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, disclosed this at the flag-off of the training programme for some selected health personnel in Zaria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is entitled: “Training on Community Management of Acute Malnutrition: Training of Trainers (TOT)”.

The governor’s wife, who was represented by Alhaji Shehu Usman-Muhammad, a member of KADENAP, said the workshop was aimed at improving the quality of health workers’ service in the management of malnutrition.

“It is specifically organised to train-the-trainers for them to train others in their various local governments and zones.

“It provides an opportunity to bring participants together from all over the state and best 20 will be selected to become trainers in the management of malnutrition in primary and secondary facilities,” she said.

The governor’s wife said the personnel were drawn from state and federal health agencies and training institutions.

She identified management of malnutrition as a critical element toward ensuring healthy future generation.

The governor’s wife said she was motivated to be part of the crusade following a UNICEF study which showed high rate of malnutrition in the state.

She said both her and the governor saw the report and felt so bad.

“The children are malnourished not because of lack of food but because of ignorance, culture, food preparation and management.

“We took it upon ourselves to change the trend and to give a sense of hope to our future generation,” she said.

Hajiya Hauwwa Usman, Assistant State Nutrition Officer, Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said the workshop was meant to proffer solution to acute malnutrition.

She said at the end of the training they want to get trainers who would train others on malnutrition at Community Management Adequate Malnutrition centres at various local government levels across the state.

“We want to eradicate malnutrition in Kaduna State. To achieve that, we need to train our workers on how to go about the eradication process.

“It is through this kind of training that the health personnel will be trained for the benefit of others,” she said.

A cross section of participants interviewed by NAN expressed appreciation for the training and pledged to impart the knowledge acquired on others to achieve the set goals.

NAN reports that about 69 health personnel were selected from the 23 local government areas of the state. (NAN)

KLM/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola