By Abba Anwar
Amid Engulfing Political Brouhaha in Kano State, His Excellency, Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, has recently been busy empowering hundreds of thousands of his constituents, with the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000), each.
As the polity is tensed recently with the exit of two APC heavyweights, joining African Democratic Congress (ADC), His Excellency Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the immediate past Deputy Governor, who was the Gubernatorial flagbearer of the APC, in 2023 election and the former Governor of the state, His Excellency Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, Senator Barau keeps eyes on the development of party members, particularly in his constituency, Kano North zone.
While politicians are busy discussing the new political wave in the state, DSP Barau has since flagged-off the grand empowerment programme for his constituents. Is in continuation of his efforts to stimulate economic activities across the Kano North Senatorial District and other parts of the state. This, at the expense of soured political engagements, being witnessed.
As his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Hon. Shitu Madaki Kunchi, his Senior Legislative Aide, Hon Kabiru Ado Lakwaya, along other dignitaries represented the Senator for the take-off recently. Which from there all local governments committees were dispatched to all the 13 local governments across Kano North Senatorial District. To fully take charge of the effective implementation of the programme.
The programme will go through December, this year, 2026. It is a year-round intervention. Visible tension in some quarters, already started subsiding. As people are kept busy with economic reinforcement.
A total of 15,600 persons would be given a N100,000 capital grant in 12 months across 13 LGAs of the Kano North Senatorial District. Each of the LGAs will have 100 beneficiaries monthly for 12 months. This is part of the correct measures taken to purposely engineer economic growth for individuals and their families. Grown and independent economy first, before any other thing.
After inauguration of the grand programme, the representative of the DSP, Hon Madaki, urged all committees that were raised for the activity, Special Assistants, Senior Legislative Aides to the DSP and all other stakeholders across the zone, to make sure that the programme succeeds.
When we look at it critically, we can say, Senator Jibrin is doing it differently. In a traditional way of such empowerment programmes, it is the sum of either Ten Thousand Naira (N10,000) or Twenty Thousand Naira (N20,000) that are distributed to beneficiaries. But Senator’s programme goes beyond that, with the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) to each beneficiary.
With the kind of political tension ravaging the state, across, the ruling and other opposition parties, this empowerment programme comes at a better time, to douse tension and make people busy, being empowered economically.
The important and essential aspect of the programme, in cushioning the effect of hardship, felt in the land, is that the positive result does not stop at the 15,600 beneficiaries, through one year duration of the project. It is an initiative with multiplier effect. Under each and every beneficiary, out of their total number of 15,600, there are other dependents, as immediate families, other relations and friends.
The sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira, even in urban setting, isn’t a joke, for small businesses. Not to talk of rural communities. With this development, many people will definitely turn blind eyes on the political tension springing up, in the state recently. The empowerment will take people away from being possessors of idle mind. Which has always been a devil’s workshop.
So without fear of contradiction, I can posit that, Distinguished Senator’s clear understanding of our setting, is not only an asset to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kano, but also to the government and good people of the state. Bravo my Senator, Bravo.
Less interested in unnecessary political debates, criticisms and counter-criticisms, he believes that, intervention in man’s development is primary. While any other things are secondary. Because of this foresight, in the pipeline, is another plan advanced to cater for other categories of people. Under it, for example in the transportation sector, 130 vehicles will be allocated to various groups to enhance the Kano North Transport Services. This is just as 1,000 motorcycles would be distributed to commercial riders, headmasters, teachers, students and other categories of people across Kano North Senatorial District.
Women are not left out. They too, meet DSP’s magnanimous engagement. As no fewer than 1,300 sewing machines and 1,300 grinding machines are set for distribution to 2,600 women. Additionally, 1,300 deep freezers and 1,300 noodle-making machines, along with bags of flour, are set aside to small-scale business owners to support food processing, storage, and other income-generating ventures across the senatorial district.
To the chagrin of all, he doesn’t keep secondary schools students and pupils away from benefiting, under his people-oriented projects, For the young students, 1,300 bicycles are set aside distribution to school children in the Senatorial district to ease transportation challenges and enhance access to education.
While the heated polity keeps many away from remembering their constituents, His Excellency, the Deputy Senate President, keeps his eyes on all categories for accessing dividends of democracy, for safe growth and development. Under this, for sports development, jerseys and footballs would be provided to 1,950 teams. A total of 150 teams will benefit from each of the 13 LGAs in Kano North Senatorial District to promote grassroots sports development and provide opportunities for young people to showcase their talents.
Understanding the basic fact that, all parts of Kano need similar interventions, he also assured that, similar things would be extended to other zones, of Kano Central and Kano South, after its completion in Kano North.
Observers believe that, the tensions engulfing the state recently, could be address squarely through multi-faceted interventions. Like the ones brought to limelight by the people’s DSP.
Investigation reveals that, some thousands of universities students and other tertiary institutions, who benefited from Barau I Jibrin Education Foundation’s Scholarship Scheme, are planning to stage a solidarity procession for the Senator. But he turned down the plan, urging them to concentrate on their studies.
His words to them, “Please concentrate on your studies. Don’t over-heat the polity. This is not what we need. We need peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding of our political realities, growth and development of our dear state and our motherland, Nigeria.”
A gentleman with indelible taste of peace, tranquility, a quintessential leader of quality substance, strong, focused, down-to-earth intellectual, kind-hearted national leader, detribalised legislator, with sound skills for debate and enduring political actor.
He also called on those who are currently attending post-graduate courses across the globe, sponsored by the his Foundation, to also face their studies and come back home with flying colours, at the completion of their studies.
He urged them to continue as good Ambassadors for Kano state and Nigeria. While concentrating on their studies. Adding that, “Mingle with other people across the globe. Meet other Africans and see how you can aid Africa’s sustainable development.”
Distinguished Senator speaking as an able First Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament. Whose interest has always been regional integration, Africa’s development and global cohesion among cultures and settlements.
Anwar writes from Kano
Friday, 10th April, 2026