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KADUNA WEEKLY REVIEWNo. 68 11th February, 2019

IN THIS EDITION

Governor El-Rufa’i Empowering Women in Kaduna State.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYMINISTRY OF JUSTICEMINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT & CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRSMINISTRY OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND TOURISM

KDSG Lauds Oando Foundation, Sumitomo Chemical for donating ICT FacilitiesKaduna Govt. opens its Education Sector for Transparency & Accountability Kaduna School Emerges Winner of Diamond Challenge National Pitch CompetitionMinistry Of Justice Commissions Sexual Assault Referral Centre Women Council seeks Collaboration with MoLGZannan Jema'a Applauds Gov. El-Rufa'iCommissioner's Cup for Buhari/El-Rufai ends at Kagarko

The Kaduna State Government has commended Oando Foundation and Sumitomo Chemical Company for donating ICT facilities to primary pupils for quality teaching and learning.The state's Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Alh. Ja'afar Sani made the commendation when officials of the foundation and the chemical company visited him in his office in Kaduna.

Sani also commended the organizations for not only supporting the state to provide digital literacy and improved school infrastructure in basic schools, but also for improving teacher's capacity for quality teaching and learning.“Education for all is the responsibility for all and you have proven that with all your support and commitments toward ensuring that the children of the poor in public schools equally have access to quality education.“We are happy with what you have done and we are looking forward to more areas of collaboration to move the education sector forward particularly at basic level where a strong foundation is critical,” the commissioner said.Also speaking, the Executive Chairman, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, Malam Nasiru Umar said that the support has greatly improved learning outcomes of pupils in the affected schools.Umar explained that Oando Foundation has adopted two public primary schools: LGEA Primary School, Rido, Chikun LG and LGEA Primary School, Lokoja Road, Rigasa, Igabi LG.He said that the foundation has donated a fully equipped ICT centre in Rido primary school and equipped two centres in Rigasa primary school.Umar added that so far, the Oando Foundation has improved the capacity of 66 teachers, trained 36 members of school-based management committees and 55 community members for sustainability in the two schools.He also said that the foundation has equally provided water facilities and constructed five classrooms in Rido primary school and donated text books and other instructional materials to both schools.“The foundation also awarded scholarship to about 40 students in various secondary schools in the state.“We will remain grateful to you for supporting us to put a smile on the faces of our children,” he said.Similarly, the Education Secretary, Igabi LGA, Malam Umar Lawal, thanked the foundation for the support and promised to ensure proper use of the facilities for the benefit of the pupils.Earlier, the Foundation Programme Manager, Tonia Uduimoh, explained that they were in Kaduna, along with Mr. Scott Mitchell of Sumitomo Chemical America Inc. to see what has been done and how the ICT facilities were being used.She further explained that the ICT facilities were donated with support from Sumitomo Chemical.

“Our goal when we adopt a school is to improve the infrastructure, build the capacity of teachers, provide instructional materials to primarily improve teaching and learning.

“Our approach is community driven for sustainability which explains why we are involving community members.”

Uduimoh pledged the foundations continued support to the two schools to ensure better learning outcomes and better future for the children.

The Kaduna State Government has formally opened its education sector to members of the public as part of efforts to ensure transparency and accountability for improved quality of service in the sector.

The state's Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Ja'afaru Sani said that the move was part of the state's Open Government Partnership to strengthen citizens' engagement in governance.

Sani stated this at the Inaugural Interactive Forum on Education Sector Performance Review, anchored by Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM), supported by DFID-funded Partnership to Reform, Engage and Learn (PERL).

He acknowledged that the only way to move the sector forward was to open the sector's doors to the public to make inputs, monitor implementation of policies and take ownership for effective service delivery.

According to him, involving the people in the designs and implementation of government policies will increase the chances of success through confidence building and co-ownership of the sector.

KADBEAM Co-chair from the civil society, Malam Aliyu Tijjani, described KABEAM as “a child of necessity”, saying that the state government is doing a lot in the education sector but not much is known by the public.

He added that KADBEAM, which has the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education as Co-Chair was a partnership platform for the government and citizens to work together toward ensuring quality in basic education.

“This will enable citizens verify government claims in terms of development in the sector so that the people will know where we are in the sector, where we ought to be and how to get there.” He said.

Presenting the state's scorecard in the sector for the last three years, Malam Lawal Abubakar of KADBEAM noted the sustained increased in budgetary allocation for the construction of classrooms for primary and secondary schools.

Abubakar also said that capital budgetary performance on construction of primary and junior secondary schools had tripled in 2017 when compared with what was budgeted in 2015.

He also said that pupil-teacher ratio has equally increased in both Early Child Development (ECD) centres, primary and junior secondary schools which has effect on the quality of basic education.

“The number of ECD increased from 1,410 in 2015 to 1,894 in 2018 with corresponding increase in enrollment from 173,000 in 2015 to 293,000 by 2018.

“Number of primary schools has increased from 4,225 in 2015 to 4,260 in 2018 while enrolment also increased from 1.1 million in 2015 to 1.7 million in 2018.

“The number of junior secondary schools equally increased form 411 in 2015 to 419 in 2018, while enrolment increase from 147,000 in 2015 to 320,000 in 2018,” he added.

Abubakar called on the state government to sustain its capital investment in developing the infrastructure of ECD, primary and junior secondary schools in the state and to recruit more qualified teacher to ensure quality of teaching and learning.

Bahijjatu Garko of UNPF commended the state government for its commitment towards engaging the citizens in the designs and implementation of programmes in the education sector.

Garko said that the only way to achieve transparency and accountability in the sector was to carry the citizens along in all education programmes.

Similarly, Istifanus Akau of PERL Kaduna said that PERL has been working in partnership with the state government to improve service delivery in the education sector.

Akau said that the partnership was yielding the desired result, particularly with the recently developed education policy for the state with inputs from the citizens, which PERL supported.

KDSG Lauds Oando Foundation, Sumitomo Chemical for donating ICT Facilities

Kaduna Govt. opens its Education Sector for Transparency & Accountability

Tonia Uduimoh, Oando Foundation Programme Manager and Mr. Scott Mitchellof Sumitomo Chemical America Inc. checking how the pupils are

using the ICT facilities.

From L - R: Mal. Nasiru Umar, Chairman of SUBEB, Tonia Uduimoh, Oando Foundation Programme Manager,Mr. Scott Mitchell of Sumitomo Chemicals and Alh. Ja’afaru Sani, Comm. of Education in a group photograph during the visit.

Government Girls Secondary School, Independence Way, Kaduna, has emerged winner of the Diamond Challenge National Pitch Competition for High School Entrepreneurs.The Diamond Challenge is an innovative entrepreneurship competition for secondary schools across the globe.The winning team in the competition presented a Fashion Design Business concept tagged “New Era Fashion World'' and had Maimunatu Isah as its team leader.

The initiator of the House of Diamond Community Initiative, Lucy Johnson said the national winner will represent Nigeria in the U.S for the finals.“The winners will go for a three day summit in the U.S to compete with other teams from countries across the globe.“The first place gets $11,000 for the team and $3,500 for each member; second place gets $7,500 and $1,500 for each member of the team while the third place gets $3,500 for the team and $750 per member.“We are hopeful that we will win something because we have a fantastic business concept,'' she said.Earlier, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Education, Ja'afaru Ibrahim, represented by Hadiza Abdulkarim, a director in the ministry said the state government will support the winner and make sure they succeed in subsequent events.He added that the state had already made provisions for students to learn a skill by introducing entrepreneurship subjects to secondary schools curriculum.

The Ministry of Justice has commissioned the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) at the Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Kofar Gaya, Zaria. The SARC in Zaria is as a result of the establishment and launching of the project in Kaduna by the Ministry of Justice alongside other stakeholders in December 2016.

The project is the first of its kind in Nigeria and it was established to cater for, offer help and treatment to survivors of sexual crimes and other forms of gender based violence.

Findings have revealed that there are incidences and occurrences of rape, child molestation, sexual assault, spousal battering, forced/child marriages, child trafficking, inhuman treatment of widows, female genital mutilation and other forms of gender based violence. These are actions that bear legal consequences but are either unreported or under reported and therefore cannot be prosecuted. It is estimated that one out of every three females has been sexually abused at one stage of her life or the other and one out of every five males has also been sexually abused at one stage of his life or the other. Despite these rates, the society has failed to give support to victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). Due to the alarming rate and rising trend of SGBV in the state, the state government has taken necessary steps and measures aimed at curbing all forms of SGBV in the state and to give survivors a platform where they can seek help and get treatment. The Kaduna state government is committed to ending sexual assaults and violence against persons. This starts with the survivors speaking out, their families understanding their plight and perpetrators being prosecuted.In view of this, the first SARC was established and

stcommissioned in Kaduna on the 1 of December, 2016. In order to bring the services of the SARC closer to the people, other centres have been established and set up at Gwamna Awan General Hospital, Kakuri, Yusuf Dantsoho General Hospital, Tudun Wada, and Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa General Hospital, Kafanchan.The Solicitor General & Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Chris Umar while declaring the Zaria SARC open, implored all to report cases of SGBV promptly to the appropriate authorities and access and utilize the services rendered by SARC which in addition to providing forensic medical examination, psycho social care and treatment would help in the prosecution of offenders in the court of law.He urged all to publicize the services rendered by the SARCs across the state for the benefit of the people in order to stem the tide of SGBV.The leader of the Justice Sector Coordinating Group in the state, Hon. Justice D.H. Khobo expressed his delight at the commissioning of SARC at Zaria and stated that Kaduna State is one of the pioneer and pilot states in the Justice Sector Reform Programme in Nigeria and with the aid of the DFID, the project is one of the success stories of the Justice Sector Reform.

The representative of the Emir of Zazzau, Sarkin Fadan Zazzau, Alh. Abbas Ahmadu Fatika extended the good will of His Highness the Emir of Zazzau and his readiness to offer assistance and support to the SARC when the need arises.

Women empowerment and family support has been described as one of the cardinal principles of government. The Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Prof. Kabir Mato stated this while receiving the leadership of the National Women Council of Nigeria on a courtesy visit to his office in Kaduna.Prof. Kabir Mato described women as mothers to all as well as teachers where children begin their life and learning experience, therefore, deserve special attention and considerations of all levels of government.The Commissioner assured the leadership of the council that

Kaduna School Emerges Winner of Diamond Challenge

National Pitch Competition

Ministry Of Justice Commissions Sexual Assault Referral Centre

Women Council seeks Collaboration with MoLG

A group photograph of the Students and Staff of G.G.S.S. IndependenceWay Kaduna and Staff of the Ministry of Education.

ndChris Umar, Solicitor General of Kaduna State, (2 left) together with ndHon. Justice D.H. Khobo (2 right), Hon. Justice Kabiru Dabo (middle)

and the representative of the Emir of Zazzau while declaring the SARC open.

Sexual Assault Referral Centre commissioned in Zaria.

his Ministry will work along with the 23 LGAs in the state to support the council as well as mobilize support of LG chairmen to take active parts in their activities.

Prof. Mato drew the attention of the leadership of the women council on the need to sensitize their members to identify with the government and fully support its developmental programmes. Earlier in her remark, the president of the council, Mrs. Deborah Dan Ishaya explained that their visit to the ministry is to intimate the commissioner on some of the activities of the council in the state and to seek for areas of collaboration being a ministry that focuses on development of the grassroots where majority of their members reside.The President highlighted some of the activities of the council in Kaduna which include; creating awareness among women, vocational training, empowerment scheme, and general well being of women and families.She therefore appealed to the Commissioner to use his office to assist the council in involving rural women to benefit from the opportunities it offers.Mrs. Ishaya also applauded Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa'i for his choice of a woman as his running mate in the 2019 forthcoming election as well as his giant strides especially in the area of family health, provision of Primary Health Centers across the state and the girl-child education policy.The President called on women in the state to ensure their PVCs are handy to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari and Mal. Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa'i returned elected.

Zannan Jema'a, Alhaji Dankeke Mato and members of Jema'a Emirate Council in Kaduna State have described the performance of Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai as very impressive.

Addressing a press conference, in Kaduna, the Zannan Jema'a said Governor El-Rufai has done excellently well in the three senatorial districts for the overall development of Kaduna State.While speaking on the developmental activities of Governor El-Rufai, he highlighted the construction of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and agricultural development, empowerment of youth and women and improved security as some key achievements.Others, according to Zanna are recruitment of qualified teachers, medical personnel, provision of health facilities as well as school feeding among others.Zannan Jema'a called on the people of the State to make sure they re-elect Governor El-Rufai, President Muhammadu Buhari and all the APC candidates during February 16 and March 2, 2019 general elections to enable them continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.He however appealed to Nigerians to conduct themselves peacefully during and after the elections with a view to ensuring peaceful elections in Kaduna State and the nation as a whole.

Ten teams drawn from ten political wards in Kagarko LGA have participated in a novelty football competition. The competition was flagged off in Kagarko and organized by the Commissioner of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Hon. Ruth Geoffrey Alkali in conjunction with an NGO, Mother of All and ALBA RRANE Foundation to promote peaceful coexistence and unity as well as mobilize support for President Muhammadu Buhari and Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa'i in the forthcoming elections.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Mal Nasir El-Rufai shortly after presenting awards to winners, runner-up and third place, said his administration if re-elected, will further enhance developments in rural areas and ensure dividends of democracy to the grassroots through the local government councils across the state. The Governor disclosed plans to establish a sport academy at Kagarko to train sportsmen and women to become professionals. He called on the electorates and residents in the state to conduct themselves peacefully during and after the elections, assuring them of adequate security. Earlier in her remarks, the Commissioner of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Hon. Ruth G. Alkali called on the people not to miss the golden opportunity of not re-electing President Buhari and Mal. El-Rufai considering where the country and state is coming from and the future ahead. She said football is the only avenue to unite the people and noted that the competition is to demonstrate commitment of the youths and the people of Kagarko to partner with the current government towards development of the state. The Governor also presented awards to the best goalkeeper, most valuable player of the tournament and highest goal scorer.

Zannan Jema'a Applauds Gov. El-Rufa'i

Commissioner's Cup for Buhari/El-Rufai ends at Kagarko

Prof. Kabir Mato (middle) with the delegation of theNigerian Women Council during the visit.

Alh. Dankeke Mato, Zannan Jema’a.

Mrs. Ruth G. Alkali, Comm. of Commerce and Gov. El-Rufaipresenting award to the winners of the competition.