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Kano awards scholarship to 50 indigent students to study in Egypt
Kano State Government says it has secured admission for 50 students and awarded them scholarships to study at AZHAR University in Cairo, Egypt, to boost Arabic and Islamic education in the state.
The Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Umar Doguwa, stated this at a one-day stakeholders sensitization and interactive meeting organized by the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) in Kano on Friday.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Bashir Muhammad, Doguwa explained that the state government would continue to strengthen its system of Arabic and Islamic education through full integration into conventional education.
The commissioner, who described the NBAIS programme as the central area of impacting moral training to the youth, urged the participants to come up with fruitful ideas that would help the government in improving the system.
Doguwa disclosed that Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf had settled over 70 percent of 2023/2024 examination fees of School for Islamic Studies (SIS) and School for Arabic Studies (SAS) final year students to NBAIS inherited from the previous administration.
“Not only that, this government has recruited more teaching staff and sent them to many Arabic and Islamic Secondary schools under the Arabic and Islamic Education Department that lack enough manpower.
“Infact, there is no state in Nigeria that is having more Arabic teachers like Kano, ” he said.
He hinted that NBAIS Schools in the state were provided with the opportunity to have in their curriculum Art and Commercial subjects and also be integrated into conventional systems of education.
Doguwa said that plans were also under way to introduce science subjects into their curriculum and make sure that NBAIS students could obtain admission at any University in Nigeria.
“A memorandum of understanding was reached with the Egyptian Government in which they agreed to give five Arabic teaching staff three of whom were already with us and started discharging their primary assignment.
“We are still anticipating the arrival of another batch of seven Arabic teachers all from the same country to complement our effort of strengthening teaching of Arabic and Islamic education,” he said.
Also speaking, the Jigawa State Commissioner of Education, Prof. Isah Chamo, said that the state too was giving priority to Arabic and Islamic schools by ensuring a conducive learning environment.
He said Jigawa state had established the Tsangaya Education Board with Executive Secretary and Special Advisers representing three senatorial zones of the state.
“Presently, Jigawa is constructing three mega Tsangaya schools across the three senatorial zones and spent over N1.5 billion on this project” he disclosed.
The Special Adviser to Kano State Governor on education, Tajuddeen Gambo, maintained that the state had also set up a committee on voluntary schools which was given the mandate to come up with new ways of improving voluntary schools across the state.
Gambo pointed out that 95 per cent of these schools came from Arabic and Islamiyya Schools.
He explained that already the Kano State Government began the integration exercise of Qur’anic and Islamiyya Schools into the conventional system of education under the Qur’anic and Islamiyya Schools Management Board, adding that a committee was set up to ensure success of the programme.
The registrar of NBAIS, Prof Yahuza Imam, said that the meeting was aimed at bringing the stakeholders together to brainstorm on the role of NBAIS in the integration of Qur’anic and Tsangaya education into the conventional system of education.
Imam, who outlined possible solutions to minimise begging associated with the Almajiri system through entrepreneurship and local business, emphasized the board’s commitment to enhancing service delivery. (NAN)
A 14-year-old girl, Elizabeth Peter, from Korokpa in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, has drowned in the Chanchaga River while fetching water.
Miss Peter was an SSS1 student of Saint Andrew Academy, Tunga Minna. Witnesses said she was at the river with her siblings when she was swept away while fetching water.
Her aunt, Abigail Idoko, said the teenager was at the river for the first time on Saturday. She had gone there with her siblings because the family could not find water vendors to buy from.
She said it took about two hours to recover her body from a deep pit in the river.
When our correspondent visited her bereaved family at Korokpa, her mother was in shock. Her father, Mr Peter, a soldier, was said to be in Zamfara State on official duty.
Korokpa, like many communities in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, has long struggled with access to clean water. Residents rely on water vendors, boreholes, or natural sources like the Chanchaga River to meet their daily needs.
However, with limited availability and rising water costs from vendors, many families resort to fetching water directly from the river despite the danger.
The Chanchaga River, a major water source for nearby communities, is notorious for drowning incidents. Deep pits within the river make it hazardous, especially for children and inexperienced swimmers.
Residents say fatalities occur almost every year, yet there has been little intervention to provide safer alternative water sources.
Miss Peter’s tragic death highlights the ongoing water crisis and the risks that residents, especially children, face in their daily struggle for access to clean water.
An ally of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has confirmed the defection move of the former governor of Kaduna State amid a viral social media letter.
In a letter making the rounds on social media, El-Rufai purportedly announced his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a party which he is a founding member.
Parts of the letter entitled: “Onwards to the future”, reads: “As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC. It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and that of the APC will align up to the time I choose to retire from politics.
“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party. On my part, I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party. Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish. Today, the 10th of March 2025, I have submitted a letter resigning my membership of the APC to my ward in Kaduna, effective immediately. Subsequent to this, I had concluded consultations with my mentors, colleagues and loyalists alike about the future, and have decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and adopt it as the platform for our future political engagements and activities.”
Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesperson of El-Rufai, did not respond to multiple messages seeking his reaction to the letter.
But sources in El-Rufai’s camp confirmed that all arrangements have been made for the former governor to submit his resignation letter to the APC at his ward in Kaduna.
An ally, who served as a commissioner under El-Rufai’s administration told Daily Trust that El-Rufai would be leaving the APC for the SDP today.
“Yes, we are all aware that he (El-Rufai) will tender his resignation from APC today, Monday, 10th March 2025, and join SDP. That is all we have been waiting for,” the source said.
The source further stated that El-Rufai’s supporters were not surprised by the leaked letter, as they were already aware of the development.
He said having worked closely with the former governor, he could vouch for the authenticity of the letter, which is yet to be posted on any of the social media platforms of El-Rufai, an avid social media user.
Importers to pay more as shipping company increases EU approves Bollore Logistics
Clearing agents operating at the nation’s ports have kicked against the increment in charges by leading French shipping company, CMA CGM, stating that the increment will add to the economic burden being passed on to the end users of the imported items at the nations markets.
Recall that the CMA CGM recently announced an increment in its charges, blaming it on the recent adjustment of Port & Marine Fees by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
CMA CGM, in a mail to Importers stated:”We are writing to inform you of a review of our charges following the recent increase in Port and Marine charges implemented by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which came into effect o the 1st of March 2025.
“As a result of such adjustment, we find it necessary to update our tariff structure to account for the new cost environment, effective 10 March 2025.
“Under the review, a 20ft container will now be charged N145,327 while a 40ft container will attract N290,654.
“A 20ft Reefer container will attract N145,327 while a 40ft Reefer container will attract N290,654.
Reacting to the price review, the National President of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Frank Ogunojemite, stated that the increment will cripple the purchasing power of the common man and further increase the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports.
According to Ogunojemite: “Shipping and terminal charges are critical components of the logistics and supply chain management process. Increases in these charges can have far-reaching effects on various stakeholders, including having effects on Importers and Exporters via Increased costs.
“Higher shipping and terminal charges lead to increased costs for importers and exporters, which will be passed on to consumers.
“Businesses may experience reduced profit margins due to higher logistics costs. This can make Nigerian businesses less competitive in the global market.
“The recent increment by CMA CGM will lead to higher prices for goods and services in Nigeria while making consumers experience reduced purchasing power due to higher prices.
“This increment can also contribute to higher inflation rate in the country, forcing businesses to reduce staff or close operations due to increased costs.
“NPA told us that the 15 percent hike will not lead to additional charges at the ports, but now the CMA CGM has blamed its recent increment on the hike in port tariff by the NPA.
“NPA must look into this price increment by the shipping companies before other shipping companies follow suit.”
Also speaking on the increment, a former National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Olayiwola Shittu blamed the Federal government on the increment by CMA CGM.
“The fault is from the Federal government. There is no way NPA will increase its charges by 15 percent and it will not affect shipping charges. Now, CMA CGM has announced an increment; expect other shipping companies to follow suit.
“And this will have far-reaching consequences on importation because the cost of clearing cargoes from the ports will go up.
“With the situation we currently find ourselves economically, should we be talking about prices increment here and there? It’s quite unfortunate because the masses suffering will keep increasing,” Olayiwola Shittu lamented.