Kano Governor Celebrates 63rd Independence Anniversary, Promises Better Future for Citizens

By Hadiza Musa Yusuf

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has congratulated Nigerians on the country’s 63rd independence anniversary, promising to work towards a better future for all citizens of the state.

He revealed this in a speech delivered at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, on Sunday, 1st Oct.

He said, “On this day, 63 years ago, our heroes of the independence struggle brought joy and happiness to all Nigerians. It was the day when we achieved independence from the colonial rule of Great Britain.”

He continued, “We are celebrating our identity as Nigerians sharing common citizenship, having equal opportunities, enjoying equal rights and responsibilities, and pursuing the same dream of building a great and prosperous nation.”

Yusuf also recognized the efforts of all previous leaders who had contributed their quota in keeping the country united and catalyzing its development.

“Our country, today, 63 years after independence has recorded some progress, but we ought to have done much better,” he said.

“Our founding fathers have laid the foundation for a nation on the principles of fairness, equity, justice and progress. These are the fulcrum upon which any progressive and prosperous society is built.

“At this moment of reflection, we must recognize and salute the efforts of all our previous leaders that contributed their quota in keeping our country united and catalyzing our development to where we are today.”

Yusuf said that his administration was determined to look to the future with hope, belief and careful plans devoid of the encumbrances of the burden of the past.

“We are working deliberately to break away from the circle of despair, poverty, insecurity and youth restiveness, all of which are products of bad leadership,” he said.

Yusuf also spoke about the steps his administration had taken to address some of the challenges facing the state.

“In the four months since our assumption of office, our administration have taken some bold steps in ensuring security of lives and properties – the cases of phone snatching and street crimes have become a history in our State.

“We have taken bold steps against the sale and consumption of illicit drugs to save our youth from becoming victims of the menace. Believing that preventive measures are not enough to stop these vices, we have re-opened all our institutes for skill acquisition for the purposes of equipping our teeming youth with soft and hard skills as well as empowering them with startup capital to start their SMEs and contribute to the development of our State and our nation,” he said.

“We have taken decisive steps to overhaul our Education and Healthcare sectors. Schools are being renovated in batches – we are providing free uniforms, schools bag and shoes at pilot stage, we are providing free exercise books and textbooks to Primary and Junior Secondary School pupils. And arrangement have reached advanced stage in providing one free meal to primary school pupils,” he continued.

“We are also building new schools across the 44 Local Government councils in our quest to mop all out-of-school children roaming our streets. To support girls-child education and encourage parents to send their daughters to school, we are issuing stipend of 20,000 Naira to over 45,000 girl – child as a pilot scheme to support them to continue schooling. We are also re-introducing the girl – child school buses to transport them to and from schools,” he said.

“To support our high level manpower development agenda, we are sending 1001 First Class graduates this academic session to study for Masters degrees at universities abroad. We have also supported numerous Kano State indigenes with the payment of registration fees in some Federal Tertiary Education institutions. We have reduced, by 50%, the registration fees in all State-owned tertiary education institutions,” he said.

On the heathcare, Yusuf said, “We have rebuilt and equipped the Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital and commissioned it to provide free medical care to children, we have renovated and upgraded the Accident and Emergency section of the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital. We have already started renovations and upgrading work at Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Nuhu Bamalli Hospital and Bela leprosy Hospital. We are in the process of renovating and all our general Hospitals, Clinics and Healthcare centers across the 44 local governments.”

Yusuf said that his administration was also taking decisive and sustainable steps to clear the town and cities of refuse dumps.

“We have procured refuse disposal equipments and re-established REMASAB and empower the agency with every necessary support to ensure that Kano is clean,” he said.

Yusuf congratulated Nigerians on the 63rd independence anniversary, and urged them to continue to work together to build a better nation for all.

PRIME TIME NEWS Correspondent, Hadiza Yusuf Musa reports that, the Nigerian Police Force held a well-organized parade at the event, which was attended by notable personalities such as the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero; the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero; the Emir of Gaya, Dr. Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir; and the Emir of Rano, Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa.

Our correspondent also reported that security arrangements were well-coordinated, with a large number of security personnel deployed to the stadium and its environs.

She equally reported that there was also a massive turnout of people at the stadium, with people from all walks of life coming together to celebrate the country’s independence. The stadium was filled to capacity, and the atmosphere was captivating.