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HANDS trains Kano health workers on SBCC strategy for NTDs, WASH
The Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS), an NGO, has trained community health workers in Kano on the Social Behavioural Communication Change (SBCC) strategy.
The training, held on Monday in Kano, focused on raising awareness about Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices.
Mr Muhammad Dan’Aro, the state Programme Officer of HANDS, explained that the training aimed to empower health workers to address public health challenges in underserved areas and effectively disseminate crucial health information.
He highlighted that the training was designed to equip health workers with the skills needed to conduct effective door-to-door awareness campaigns on NTDs and WASH.
Dan’Aro acknowledged the significant challenges the state faced in fully eliminating NTDs through WASH initiatives, including poor coordination and information sharing between the WASH and NTD sectors.
He also mentioned the limited capacity among health workers to effectively communicate about NTD-WASH collaboration, as well as low citizen awareness of the role of WASH practices in NTD elimination.
He stressed the need to strengthen existing WASH structures in NTD-endemic communities.
Dan’Aro explained that the NTD/WASH collaboration aimed to sustain the gains made through the PC NTDs approach and emphasise the importance of synergy among relevant stakeholders.
“The project targets communities with low sanitation levels in the LGAs of Karaye, Kiru, Kabo, Madobi, Rogo, Sumaila, and Kura.
“SBCC is becoming a cornerstone in tackling public health issues, particularly in the fight against NTDs.
“By promoting awareness, changing attitudes, encouraging new practices, and sustaining positive behaviours, SBCC strategies are reshaping how communities approach health challenges,” he said.
The Managing Director , Rural Water Sanitation Agency, Shamwil Abdulkadir, encouraged the beneficiaries to share the knowledge gained with others and emphasised the importance of taking the training seriously.
Abdulkadir also highlighted the vital role of disseminating skills for collective growth.
He stressed that the success of the training depends not only on individual application but also on how effectively participants spread the knowledge within their communities.
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A philanthropist, and Commissioner for Environment in Katsina, Hamza Sule-Faskari, has distributed Ramadan assistance worth N122 million to thousands of vulnerable persons across the 11 Local Government Areas of Funtua Zone.
The intervention, aimed at easing hardship during the holy month of Ramadan, comprised food items valued at N60 million and cash donations totaling N62 million,
The commissioner, during the event on Sunday in Faskari, said the gesture benefited orphans, widows, internally displaced persons (IDPs), youths, politicians, community development associations, and other less-privileged members of society.
According to him, the food items included 400 bags of rice, 500 bags of millet, and 300 bags of maize, carefully allocated to ensure widespread reach and impact across communities in the zone.
Sule-Faskari, also the Wamban Faskari and Sadaukin Kasar Hausa, said the initiative was part of his sustained commitment to supporting vulnerable groups, particularly during Ramadan, a period that emphasises compassion, charity, and community support.
The commissioner said that the initiative was designed to provide relief and enable about 5,000 beneficiaries to observe the Ramadan fast with dignity.
He urged the residents to use the holy period to strengthen their devotion to Allah through prayers, acts of charity, and peaceful coexistence, while also praying for leaders at all levels to succeed in delivering sustainable development and prosperity.
In his remarks, the state Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bala Abu-Musawa, described Sule-Faskari as a committed party stalwart who consistently prioritizes the welfare of party members and vulnerable citizens.
According to him, the commissioner’s annual Ramadan interventions and other humanitarian efforts had strengthened unity, loyalty, and grassroots support for the party across the state.
Traditional leaders, Islamic clerics, and community representatives, who spoke at the event commended the commissioner’s generosity, describing it as timely and impactful.
They also urged other political leaders and wealthy individuals to emulate the gesture in supporting vulnerable populations.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Faskari Local Government Area, Surajo Daudawa, announced that the council would pay electricity bills for the residents for one year as part of efforts to cushion the economic burden on households.
NAN
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By Aminu Garko
Kano, Former Military Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to put aside their differences and unite in the defence of the nation’s sovereignty, emphasising the need for national solidarity in the face of external threats.
Abubakar expressed deep concern over reported comments by US President Donald Trump, describing the situation as a “grave threat to the country’s hard-won unity.”
Abubakar,, who is currently in London told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in a telephone interview on Tuesday that Trump’s comments could jeopardise Nigeria’s peace.
Abubakar emphasised that unity, wisdom, and diplomacy were essential in navigating this critical moment, adding that division and pride would only exacerbate the situation.
He also called on the United States to support Nigeria in combating insecurity rather than issuing threats.
Abubakar, however, said strategic dialogue was needed to engage Washington and Trump through quiet diplomacy so as to de-escalate the situation and address the underlying issues.
He stressed, “Unity, wisdom, and diplomacy must take precedence over division and pride at this critical moment.”
He urged the US to support Nigeria in combating insecurity rather than issuing threats of an attack on the West African nation.
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NAN Bureau Chief appointed Chairman of NUJ Kano ethics, disciplinary committee
Appointment
Kano. The Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has appointed the Bureau Chief of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Aminu Garko, as the Chairman of its Ethics and Disciplinary Committee.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the appointment, which took effect immediately, will span a two-month tenure and is seen as a strategic move to uphold ethical standards and accountability within the union.
In an official letter signed by the council Chairman, Mr Sulaiman Dederi, the NUJ praised Garko’s “commendable track record, discipline, resilience, and unwavering commitment to professional responsibilities.”
His appointment, according to the union, was grounded in the provisions of Article 7(1)(a) of the NUJ Constitution.
The letter read, “The Clcouncil is confident that your integrity and dedication will contribute meaningfully to the work of this Committee.
“You are expected to discharge your duties in accordance with the NUJ constitution and the terms of reference attached to this letter.”
The ethics and disciplinary committee plays a critical role in promoting accountability and professionalism among journalists in Kano State.
Garko’s leadership is expected to bring fresh momentum to the council’s efforts to maintain journalistic integrity and enforce ethical compliance among members.
Garko, a seasoned journalist with decades of experience in the media industry, is widely respected in the Nigerian press for his principled reporting and leadership.
His colleagues describe him as a “bridge between generations of journalists” and a “model of integrity in the profession.”
While addressing Reporters following the announcement, Dederi reaffirmed the council’s commitment to transparency and discipline.
“The union must continually reinvent itself by setting high ethical standards and holding members accountable.
“With Mr Garko leading this important committee, we are confident that the right tone will be set,” he said.
The terms of reference guiding the committee’s activities were enclosed with the appointment letter and are expected to serve as the foundation for the committee’s operations during Garko’s tenure.
The appointment is seen by many as a reaffirmation of the NUJ’s dedication to professional excellence, especially at a time when ethical journalism is increasingly being called into question amid the rise of misinformation.
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APC stakeholders warn against factional politics in Adamawa
Tinubu campaign group donates N11m, rice to Katsina APC Officials
Radda unveils ₦10.3m Ramadan support for APC members in Katsina
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