Open Letter to Comrade Kabir Dakata on His Appointment as Director General, Kano State Advert & Signage Agency (KSASA)

By Musa Abdullahi Sufi, Kano, Nigeria

Dear Comrade Kabir Said Dakata

I write to publicly extend my heartfelt congratulations on your recent appointment by His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, as the Director General of the newly established Kano State Advert & Signage Agency (KaSASA).

Your emergence into this crucial role is not only a personal milestone but also a strategic step for Kano State’s urban development. Your proven commitment to good governance, civic engagement, and social accountability makes you a fitting choice to lead this agency at such a critical time.

A New Chapter for Urban Aesthetics and Governance

KSASA, under your leadership, holds immense potential to redefine how outdoor advertising, signage, and branding are managed in Kano State. This is not just about aesthetics, it is about revenue generation, public order, youth employment, safety, and sustainable development. It is about rebranding Kano with dignity and discipline.

As you embark on this important journey, allow me to offer a few strategic recommendations grounded in international best practices and adapted to the realities of our beloved state.

1. Create a Strategic Framework
• Develop a vision-driven roadmap (2025–2030) for KSASA aligned with Kano’s urban renewal agenda.
• Focus on sustainability, digital transformation, and regulatory excellence as foundational pillars.

2. Adopt Global Best Practices in Signage Regulation
• Study successful models such as LASAA (Lagos), Nairobi City County, Johannesburg, and Dubai’s signage systems.
• Promote smart, digital, eco-friendly, and culturally sensitive signage that complements Kano’s identity.
• Establish clear zoning laws and permit processes to reduce clutter, visual pollution, and arbitrary advertisements.

3. Strengthen Public Engagement and Education
• Launch multilingual public awareness campaigns on signage laws and responsible advertising.
• Engage communities through town hall dialogues and interactive forums in each local government area.
• Build a Community Compliance Taskforce to involve local youth and residents in maintaining signage standards.

4. Ensure Transparency and Revenue Optimization
• Introduce a centralized digital portal for licensing, payments, renewals, and compliance monitoring.
• Collaborate with Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) to strengthen internally generated revenue (IGR) through transparent billing systems.
• Deploy GIS mapping for tracking and monitoring billboards and signage infrastructure in real time.

5. Foster Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
• Partner with:
o Private sector players (ad agencies, SMEs, digital marketing firms),
o Universities and research centers for innovation and training,
o Civil society organizations for public feedback and accountability,
o Religious and traditional leaders for value-based compliance and cultural alignment.
6. Empower Youth and Create Jobs

• Set up a KASASA Creative Hub for training youth in graphic design, billboard production, and digital signage technology.
• Employ young people as Signage Marshals for field enforcement, data collection, and environmental monitoring.
• Introduce competitions and grants to promote youth-led innovations in urban branding and advertising.

7. Integrate Urban Development Goals
• Work with agencies like KNUPDA, KASUPDA, and the Ministry of Environment to ensure coordinated and aesthetic urban planning.
• Launch a “Beautify Kano Through Responsible Advertising” campaign to restore pride in public spaces.
• Ensure signage does not obstruct traffic, deface heritage areas, or endanger public safety.

8. Institutionalize Accountability and Impact Measurement
• Publish quarterly performance scorecards and impact reports.
• Open a public complaint and compliance desk for citizens to report violations.
• Conduct regular audits and stakeholder feedback sessions to ensure KASASA remains a people-oriented institution.

Conclusion

Comrade Kabir, this is a rare opportunity to build a new institution from the ground up. Your legacy can be that of transforming a regulatory agency into a beacon of professionalism, innovation, and service to the people of Kano State.

May your tenure bring visible order to our signage landscape, economic empowerment to our youth, and renewed dignity to our public environment.

I and many others look forward to seeing your leadership steer KASASA into a model agency for Nigeria and the continent.

Congratulations once again brother.

With high regards,

Musa Abdullahi Sufi
Senior Vision Director
Sustainable Innovation and Development Solutions (SIDES)

Note: KASASA is for the sake of this write up not official abbreviation