NUJ Hails Gov. Yusuf, Waiya For Warm Reception, Appreciate Gov't's Achievements
Members and leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have expressed appreciation for the hospitality accorded to them by Kano state Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf and his commissioner of information and internal affairs Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya as well as Kano residents throughout their stay in the state.
The leadership of the union was in Kano for their national executive council meeting (NEC) and other engagements for two days, hosted by Kano council.
Speaking at a dinner organized by Kano council of the NUJ with support from the state government, national president of the union Alhassan Yahaya said, his team appreciated the hospitality and applauded the governor for the achievement recorded by his administration.
He said, during their tour round the state, they have seen various completed and ongoing projects.
The national president appreciated the way governor Yusuf is relating with the media, noting that, his choice as for the award of media friendly governor was deliberate.
The NUJ president also commended the information commissioner for initiating and spare heading the actualization of hosting the NEC meeting in Kano in a colourful manner.
On his part, the information and internal affairs commissioner comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya said, in order to ensure transparency, effective communication and public enlightenment, the administration of His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has breathed new life into the state’s information machinery, transforming it into a vibrant platform for inclusivity and citizen engagement.
Waiya revealed that, the government as part of its commitment towards freedom and enhancing access to information, the Kano state government is making efforts to domesticate the Freedom of Information ACT.
He said, through the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, purposeful communication, robust stakeholders engagement and strategic media partnerships have strengthened the bond between government and the people. "These achievements have not only enhanced transparency but also repositioned Kano as a hub for effective public information management. Since assumption of office,
The Commissioner said, he always maintained a media friendly posture in recognition of it's vintage position in good governance and sustainable development, which are the hallmark of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf's administration.
"I have embarked on initiatives and reforms that are aimed at enhancing effective and efficient media and information management, which include:
1. Sanitizing the Kano state media landscape in collaboration with critical stakeholders, a development that has enabled us to promote healthy communication and information dissemination and upholds the rights of every individual as a citizen of Nigeria, while recognizing the rights of the media as the chief driver of freedom of expression.
2. While our government fully recognizes the role and place of the opposition in a democracy, we however encourage the culture of constructive and healthy opposition which revolves around mutual respect, understanding the convergence of a common goal that promotes the development of our dear state.
3. To achieve our fundamental goals and objectives, we introduced reforms and interventions for robust media in the state, which include:
a. Capacity building training for all political commentators, irrespective of party leaning
b. Enhancing relationship with all media executives through periodic meetings and other engagements with a view to strengthening relationship for the betterment of our people
c. Facilitated the creation and inauguration of Online Media Chapel, the first of its kind in the North, with a view to enhancing journalistic excellence in line with emerging trends in the industry
d. Continuous capacity building training for Information Officers across the 44 Local Government Areas and Public Relation Officers attached to MDAs in order to enhance their professional capacity, especially in multimedia practice
e. Sponsorship for the registration of 104 Information Officers and Public Relation Officers with Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) where the induction of 71, took place on the 7th of this July, 2025
f. Capacity building training for over 30 female journalists through Brown Pigeon Media Limited.
g. Capacity building training for over 200 social media users on trends in the digital media with a view to ensuring a healthy and professional usage of the social media space as an essential branch of mass communication.
h. The establishment of the Kano State Media and Information Council for effective and efficient information management, which will soon be Inaugurated
i. As part of our commitment towards freedom and enhancing access to information, the Kano state government is making efforts to domesticate the Freedom of Information ACT
j. To further build our relationship with the media, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State Government graciously approved to host the NEC MEETING of the NUJ, just concluded in the state yesterday.
k. The Kano State Government recently organized and conducted training for 132 Senior Special Reporters and Special Reporters, as part of the efforts to ensure professionalism and ethical reportage
l. Currently, the government is working to reinvigorate the two state owned media organizations, namely: Triumph Publishing Company and Abubakar Rimi Television.
m. Revival of In-House Publications: The weekly News Bulletin in both English and Hausa, and the monthly Kano State Today and Jihar Kano A Yau Magazines have been brought back into circulation, serving as vital channels for informing the public about government policies, programmes and achievements.
n. A Capacity Building workshop was carried for Jumu'at Mosques Imams to enhance the use of Jumu'at Mosques' sermons for peace and promotion of government's policies. o. Series of meetings was held with Heads of Political Programme Units and relevant professional bodies and political groups towards check-mating inflammatory political statements and injecting sanity into a hitherto socio-politically tensed situation. This effort has not only started yielding results, but has also planted a new socio-political seed of tolerance and politics without bitterness amongst divergent groups of political party followers in the state.
p. Knowledge Documentation: All papers and speeches from the workshop have been collated and compiled into a book, creating a valuable reference point for practitioners in the state’s information sector.
q. Revival of Media Units: Approval was secured for the resuscitation of the moribund Radio, Television and Photography Units of the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, signalling a return to active media production.
r. Supported the revival of the Forum of Radio Political Programme Commentators, Gauta Club, and facilitated the creation of Forum of News Managers.
s. Reintroduction of Sponsored Programmes: The popular weekly Radio programme, Hantsi, was revived, with broadcasts on six selected stations across the state and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Kaduna.
u. Strengthened the relationship between the citizens and Government on policy and government's programmes engagement through Civil Society Organizations in the State, an initiative which has paved the way for more support and understanding of the operations of Government. This too has enabled the Government to enhance cordial working relationship towars addressing social-political and economic challenges through effective advocacy and sharing of expertise
v. Media Stakeholder Engagement: Reconnected with all key media stakeholders in the state through the Forum of Heads of Media, NUJ, NIPR, NAWOJ, NBC and others, fostering improved working relationships and beneficial partnerships.
w. Moves for Revival of Strategic Committees: The ministry has forwarded an Executive Memo to revive the State Media Advisory Committee and Media Implementation Committee, comprising all heads of media in the state, NBC, ARCON, NUJ, the Ministry of Justice, the House Committee on Information, Shariah Commission, among others.
x. Civic Documentation: Reactivated the State Committee on Naturalization and Citizenship, giving renewed attention to documentation and civic identity processes.
y. Library Rehabilitation: Rehabilitated the Ministry’s Library, ensuring better access to information resources for research and reference.
"With these strides, the Ministry of Information and internal affairs has continued to serve as the voice of the government and the ear of the people, ensuring policies, programmes and initiatives are communicated clearly, professionally and inclusively, thereby cementing Kano State’s position as a model for effective public information management in Nigeria".
