The Katsina State Statistician-General, Prof. Saifullahi Sani, has disbursed more than N20 million to students, Islamic preachers, and women groups in Matazu Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking during the event on Monday in Matazu, Sani said the gesture was part of his personal contribution toward supporting people in his constituency and improving their livelihood.

He explained that the assistance to more than 2,000 people was aimed at empowering the beneficiaries and easing economic hardship among vulnerable groups in the area.

According to the statistician-general, more than 114 students currently in second-class upper division across the local government area will receive N100,000 each as scholarships.

“The support will also be extended to members of the Gwagware Foundation media team, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as other vulnerable individuals within the community,” he said.

Sani called on the beneficiaries to make good use of the funds, assuring them of his continued commitment to supporting the less privileged and promoting initiatives that would enhance the development of the area.

He also commended Gov. Dikko Radda for encouraging individuals and organisations to support the poor and contribute to community development.

Earlier, the APC Chairman in Matazu local government area, Mansur Aliyu, noted that the financial assistance would enable beneficiaries to establish small-scale businesses and become self-reliant.

He further urged wealthy individuals and elected representatives from the area to support poor families financially and contribute toward the rapid development of the community.

One of the beneficiaries, Samaila Sani, commended Sani for the gesture and assured that the funds would be used judiciously.

Similarly, Hadiza Maikudi, who spoke on behalf of women organisations in the area, said the support would go a long way in alleviating the suffering of many women and their families.

NAN

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The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has launched a pivotal workshop aimed at enhancing the export competitiveness of Nigeria’s gemstone sector.

Speaking at the workshop on Tuesday in Kano, the Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, emphasized the importance of transforming Nigeria’s gemstone industry.

“Countries that dominate the gemstone export market do so not because they mine the most, but because they add the most value,” she said,

Represented by the regional coordinator of the agency, Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, stressed that gemstones in their raw form do not yield the same economic potential as polished, value-added products.

“Nigeria, blessed with a wealth of gemstones such as sapphire, tourmaline, emerald, topaz, garnet, and amethyst, boasts substantial deposits across various states, including Kano and its neighboring regions,” she explained.

Ayeni pointed out that a significant proportion of the country’s gemstones were exported in their rough, unprocessed state, limiting both foreign exchange earnings and job creation.

According to her, the practice, results in other countries capturing the economic value through processing and finishing.

She stressed that the workshop aligns with the NEPC’s strategic campaign, #DoubleYourExports, which calls for a transition from raw mineral exports to processed, certified, and globally competitive finished products.

“This is not just a technical exercise, but an economic strategy to elevate Nigeria’s position in the global gemstone market,” Ayeni said.

Ayeni also highlighted the importance of organized clusters and collaboration between miners, processors, exporters, and financial institutions.

“When miners operate informally and individually, value is lost. But when they work within organized clusters, skills improve, costs reduce, and standards strengthen,” she added.

The NEPC boss also affirmed the Council’s commitment to providing continuous support to the gemstone sector.

Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, NEPC North-West Regional Coordinator, called for the transformation of Nigeria’s gemstone value chain to meet international standards.

She stressed the importance of miners and artisans acquiring skills to produce high-quality, market-ready gemstones.

Abdulmalik highlighted that the workshop supports NEPC’s mandate to promote non-oil exports and create sustainable livelihoods through value addition.

She said that the training would cover quality management, export documentation, and market access strategies to enhance global competitiveness.

Speaking also, Alhaji Hamza Safiyanu, Commissioner for the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, outlined key strategies for advancing the sector.

He stressed the ministry’s progress through data collection, stakeholder engagement, and policy development.

“We are now focusing on providing artisans miners with opportunities to market their products, a major achievement in our efforts,” he said,

Safiyanu emphasized the need for miners to understand global markets and their sector’s potential.

Speaking also, Alhaji Hamza Safiyanu, Commissioner for the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, outlined key strategies for achieving the sector’s goals.

According to him, the ministry has made significant progress through concerted efforts, including data collection and stakeholder engagement.

He highlighted the importance of policy development and collaborations in advancing the sector.

“We have moved to the next phase of development by involving miners, particularly artisanal miners.

“Our focus is now on creating opportunities for them to market their mined products. This marks a major achievement in our efforts,” he explained.

The commissioner also emphasized the need for artisanal miners to better understand global markets and the potential within their sector.

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Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has called on Northern states to strengthen collaboration in implementing tax reforms and digital transformation to boost revenue generation and ensure sustainable development.

Yusuf made the call on Wednesday at the second day of 2025 Northern Revenue Conference held in Kano.

The conference, with the theme “Readiness, Reforms, and Digital Transformation,” brought together policymakers, fiscal experts, and revenue administrators from across the northern states to discuss emerging trends in tax administration.

Represented by the Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Alhaji Musa Shanono, the Governor said effective revenue management remained central to good governance and economic growth.

He said his administration had prioritised fiscal reforms and digital innovation to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability in public finance.

Yusuf commended the Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) for its progress under the leadership of Dr. Zaid Abubakar, describing it as a model for other states to emulate.

He said the enactment of the 2025 Nigerian Tax Laws had ushered in a new era in the country’s fiscal policy, encouraging states to embrace innovation and technology in tax administration.

Yusuf added, “The new framework compels us to think more strategically, collaborate more effectively and act more decisively.

“We must expand our fiscal frontiers beyond traditional boundaries and harness the potential of the informal sector, SMEs, and the growing digital economy.”

He emphasised integrity and accountability as the foundation of effective governance, saying:

“Integrity is fundamental in whatever we do. When it is missing, energy and intelligence are wasted,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), Dr Zaid Abubakar, has called on state revenue agencies to embrace digital innovations and institutional reforms to enhance efficiency and transparency in tax administration.

He said the era of manual processes and guesswork in tax administration had passed, stressing the need for precision, digital competence and strong leadership in driving fiscal reforms.

“The 2025 reform agenda requires us to be strategic, data-driven and technology-oriented.

“The era of guesswork in tax administration is over. We must move towards systems that ensure accountability, accuracy and convenience for taxpayers,” he said.

The KIRS Chairman urged participants to use the conference as a platform to share ideas, strengthen collaboration and build networks that would promote a more efficient and taxpayer-friendly revenue system across the northern states.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to continue investing in digital transformation and capacity building to support sustainable revenue growth and fiscal stability

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