Longtong Ibrahim
Stakeholders at a town hall meeting organized by the Aminu Kano Center for Democratic Studies, Mambayya House, Kano, to mark Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf’s 100 days in office have tasked the state government to do more in areas of girl-child education, tackling the menace of drug abuse, youth unemployment, out of school children and boosting Agricultural sector for the betterment of the state.
Speaking to Stallion Times shortly after the town hall meeting which was tagged ‘The first 100 Days of Kano State Government in Office: Achievements and Challenges’, the Ameera of the Federation of Muslim Women Association (FOMWAN), Kano State Chapter, Habiba Abubakar Mijinyawa pointed out that, as a group, their emphasis is on the issue of girl child education.
She said: “I am emphasizing on the girl child education, many of the schools in rural areas don’t have female teachers while they are concentrated in the city, we want the government to look into it, employ qualified teachers, and post them to the rural areas.
“When a girl-child reaches puberty age, she needs a female teacher who understands her age of development, a person who she can speak to of her challenges. Without a female teacher in our rural communities, it will discourage the girl-child from going to school.
“We have heard of so many commitments from the government, we hope they will put action to their words.
“We as citizens will be waiting patiently to see what happens as the years go by since they are just 100 days in office.”
On his part, the Executive Director of Citizen for Development and Education, Amb. Ibrahim Waiya commended the government on its achievements so far.
He said, though there are some hurdles especially as regards the recent demolition exercise, which generated public concern, it was a genuine cause aimed at recovering public assets.
“Government has generally improved on the administrative system, especially in public service, the MDAs are now becoming autonomous when it comes to managing their funds approved in the budget.
“They should focus on out-of-school children, those roaming about on our streets which is quite embarrassing to the state; the issue of poverty should be looked into because people are going through hard times.
“Youths unemployment, drug abuse especially among the youths, which is threatening the social coexistence of the people, these are some of the things they should focus on or declare a state of emergency on them should be the government’s top priority.
Waiya also called on the government to consider promoting agriculture and ICT development because they are sectors that can create more opportunities for the State.
Kabiru Badamassi, the Secretary of Mabamyya House, also commended the state government saying, it is doing a lot and moving on the right track.
He said: “Government should embark on social reorientation as in why the government is doing what it is doing, and how it will be executing some of what they are doing because they are doing it in the interest of the public.”
Also speaking, Prof. Kamilu Sani Fage of the Department of Political Science, Bayero University University, Kano, said the state is faced with the issue of abject poverty, and drug abuse. and addiction, less enrolment of girl children in school as well acute shortage of medical doctors in the hospital especially in rural areas.
He however pointed out that, the government should focus more attention on the educational sector where young people can be empowered through the provision of the necessary support and facilities.
The Kano State Governor, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Adullahi Baffa Bichi, explained that the government has made remarkable achievements in its first 100 days in office.
“We have done so much for the people of in state ranging from fulfilling some of our campaign promises, policy commitments, and programs, revisiting some abandoned, and initiating new projects.
Some of the achievements he mentioned include the award of foreign scholarship to the first batch of 1001 Kano students, payment of National Examination Council (NECO) fees, completion of the Wuji-Wuji road project, reopening of 26 Kano state institutions, reclaiming of public assets, and provision of palliatives to its citizens among many achievements.
The event was put together by the Vice-Chancellor Bayero University Kano, BUK, in collaboration with organizing partners, which include Stallion Times and Non-Governmental Organizations held a 2023 town hall meeting with Gubernatorial Candidates in Kano. Other partners are CITAD, PERL, ARTV, NUJ, Kano Focus, Rahma Radio and Television, Kano Charter, FOMWAN, Hasken Kano, Freedom 99.5 FM, CAGSI, Express 90.3 FM, United State Institute of Peace, Nawoj, Charity and Vulnerable Support Initiative, KASTU, and Gashash Foundation.
