The Kano State Government has approved the sum of N1.4bn exam fees for qualified indigent students.
The state’s Executive Council endorsed the release of N1, 403, 936, 600 for the sponsorship of 60, 871 qualified indigent secondary school students for NECO, NABTEB, NBAIS and SSCE examinations.
The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the council meeting held at Council Chambers, Government House, Kano.
The category of benefitting students includes those who obtained six credits and above, including English and Mathematics in Regular Secondary Schools in Qualifying Examinations and Senior Islamic and Tahfeez Secondary School students.
Also, Garba disclosed that the council ratified the executive approval given for the release of the naira equivalent to $100, 000 dollars to a state-dedicated account, as a counterpart fund for the implementation of World Bank Supported Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transform Services Project aimed at improving poor health indices in the state through high impact interventions.
Similarly, the commissioner pointed out that the overall focus of the project is Immunization Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, through accelerating the implementation of strategy for immunisation and the Primary Healthcare System.
He added that the project has the potential to be the foundation of implementing the minimum service package and revamping essential Primary Health Care Services.
In addition, Garba announced the approval given by the council for the establishment of a management board for the upgraded and equipped Muhammadu Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, which has since commenced postgraduate (Residency) training in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radiology and Internal Medicine to serve as a source of critical manpower to the state and the country at large.
Furthermore, the commissioner stated that the establishment of the board, as contained in the draft hospital bill, would give the hospital the standard management structure to compete with any teaching hospital in the country.
He said Prof. Adamu Ibrahim Yakasai of Bayero University, Kano is to chair the board with the following as members: Dr Mariya Mahmoud and Dr. Usman Tijjani Aliyu of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital; Dr Abdullahi Isa Kauranmata and Dr Shehu Usman Abdullahi, representatives of the state Ministry of Health; Dr Bukar Grema, representative of the Nigeria Medical Association; Pharmacist Hisham Imamuddeen and Matron Rabi Musa Ibrahim, Joint Health Sector Unions representatives; as well as representations from Vice Chancellor’s Office, Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano, Provost College of Medicine, Chief Medical Director, MAWTH, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee/CMO MAWTH, while the hospital director of administration is to serve as secretary.
The council, according to him, has also given approval for the establishment of a private University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bichi town, Bichi Local Government, and allocation of a piece of land situated at Bichi town (Kofar Wambai) for the institution.
Garba also stated that the council has approved the enactment of a law to address the unguarded blasphemous sermons on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as well as attacks on personalities.
He said the law would harmonise the mode of preaching through sermons, which include open preaching in open places, hate speech or defamation of character through radio, television, newspaper or any other conventional platform and social media, attack on the leadership of the opposite sect and incitement of followers.
The commissioner revealed that the council also approved the establishment of a strong Council of Ulama through an enabling law from the state House of Assembly to monitor, supervise and regulate all religious sermons in the state.
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