Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has distributed tools, seed capital, and business resources to 1,130 graduates from six revived entrepreneurship skills institutes, in a drive to tackle unemployment and boost youth self-reliance.

The event, held at the Coronation Hall of Government House, Kano, marked what the Governor described as “rekindling hope, restoring dreams, and unlocking the enormous potential” of young people to contribute to the state’s economy.

Governor Yusuf recalled that the institutes — established under former governor Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso — had been shut down by the previous administration. He said his government not only reopened them but equipped graduates with the means to start viable enterprises.

“Today, each graduate leaves not just with a certificate, but with resources to begin a sustainable business. These are seeds — nurture them and they will grow into enterprises that benefit you, your families, and our state,” he told beneficiaries.

Breakdown of Empowerment Packages
According to the Governor, 250 graduates from the Informatics Institute received laptops and phone repair kits; 140 from the Livestock Institute, Bagauda, got bulls, feed, and veterinary supplies; and 250 from the Driving Institute, Kumbotso, received driver’s licences and certificates.

In addition, 200 graduates from the Horticulture Institute, Bagauda, were given modern gardening tools; 200 from the Fisheries Institute, Bagauda, received fingerlings, weighing scales, and tarpaulin ponds; while 90 from the Film Institute, Tiga, got digital cameras.

The founder of the institutes and NNPP leader, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, represented by the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Ahmad Ajuji, praised the state government’s revival of the initiative and wished the graduates success.

The Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Munir Sanusi, also commended the Governor’s vision for transforming the state’s economy and empowering its youth.

Details of the engagement were contained in a statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature.

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Policy experts have called for deeper grassroots engagement and stronger data-based governance to enhance the impact of Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda in Akwa Ibom State.

They made the call during a high-level panel review session in Uyo, the state’s capital.

The lead discussant and renowned economist Professor Akpan Ekpo said that while the administration was on the right path, Akwa Ibom must institutionalise its progress as a model for subnational development in Nigeria.

“Without data there can be no planning. We must codify these achievements into a costed State Development Plan that no governor can ignore,” he stated. “With competent technocrats, you can codify this agenda into a State Development Plan and take it to the House of Assembly for approval. That plan will anchor continuity, ensure every village knows what is coming to them, and secure your development vision for the next six years.”

Professor Ekpo commended the state’s proactive role in initiating industries but stressed the need for strategic exit points.

“A state like ours must act as a catalyst — start these industries, but know when to disinvest,” he advised, adding that while the private sector is an engine of growth, “it is not an engine of development.”

He urged the creation of a reserve fund to safeguard against future economic shocks and recommended bringing in independent evaluators periodically for monitoring and evaluation.

“No matter how small, invest it and set clear rules for access; that’s how economies grow,” he said, envisioning a competitive federalism where “people will come here to invest instead of us going to Abuja.”

He further told Governor Umo Eno: “Delegate; if they don’t deliver, fire them.”

Financial analyst Nancy Illoh-Nnaji urged a shift from short-term assistance to lasting wealth creation.

“It’s fantastic to give people ₦50,000, but we must move from empowerment to entrepreneurship,” she said, also stressing the need for systematic, results-focused monitoring and evaluation.

Warning against overreliance on oil revenues, she added: “If oil prices fall to $20 tomorrow, your plans will be challenged.”

Media practitioner Terry Ikumi noted that transparency must go hand-in-hand with accessibility.

“Information must not only be available; it must be understandable to the people whose lives are shaped by these policies,” he observed.

Public affairs analyst, Reuben Abati called for wider grassroots consultation and needs-based planning.

“Town hall meetings should not be restricted to Uyo alone. Government messaging must reach ordinary citizens, not just the elite,” he said. “In God we trust; all others must bring data.”

Abati also advocated closer collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics to align state data with national indices.

“Without data, there can be no planning — and that’s why the next steps are as important as what has been done today,” he cautioned.

Civic educator and development advocate, Tijjah Bolton stressed that evaluation without open data leaves citizens in the dark, insisting that performance claims must be verifiable.

“When you tell the people you are performing well, you must show them the numbers, the baselines, and the targets. Without this, the conversation becomes feelings versus facts — and governance cannot be run on feelings,” he said.

Bolton added that citizens could only take ownership of development when allowed to verify claims for themselves.

“The ARISE Agenda belongs to the people. Give them the tools, and they will tell you exactly where the gaps are and where the applause is due,” Bolton added.

Responding, panel moderator and Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, said transparency and citizen input were already central to the state’s governance approach.

“Our budget is online, accessible to all. The governor is ticking off promises made to all 31 local government areas and has requested needs documents from each federal constituency for inclusion in the 2026 People’s Budget,” he said.

The session concluded with a consensus that Akwa Ibom’s next stage of growth should rely on stronger data-driven planning, deeper grassroots engagement, and an economy less dependent on federal allocations.

The ARISE Agenda, anchored on the five pillars of Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance and Advancement, Security Management, and Educational Advancement, covering more than 17 sectors, serves as the state’s medium-term development framework.

The review session brought together policy experts, civil society leaders, and the media to assess progress and recommend next steps for inclusive growth.

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The Executive Assistant and Chief Delivery Advisor to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Aniefiok Johnson, has unveiled detailed next steps to complete more than 60 major projects across all five pillars of Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, assuring that each is fully funded without resorting to borrowing.

Addressing participants at the ARISE Agenda two-year mid-term review in Uyo, Johnson said the next phase would focus on consolidating existing gains and ensuring that every project delivers measurable, long-term impact.

“Our task now is to move from progress to impact,” he declared, saying, “Every project has secured funding, timelines, and a clear delivery plan. The goal is simple — to finish strong and inclusively.”

Timelines for Key Projects

Among the listed projects, the 5,000-seater Ibom International Convention Centre and its adjoining 200-room hotel — abandoned for more than 15 years — are due for completion within 14 months. The ARISE Senior Citizen Centre, which began in January 2025, is set for commissioning in September 2025.

Public transportation will also be boosted with an initial fleet of 20 CNG-powered buses and supporting terminals scheduled to be operational by December 2025.

Education access will be improved through the Model Secondary School Project, due for completion in 2026, while healthcare capacity will be expanded via a 350-bed specialist hospital designed to serve not just Akwa Ibom but also Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

Tourism and economic diversification initiatives include the Oron Maritime Infrastructure Hub, the transformation of a former gully site into a nine-hole golf course and resort, and the deployment of the Akwa GIS land information system to improve transparency and unlock real estate value.

Projects by Sector

The Delivery Advisor detailed the ARISE Agenda’s active portfolio as follows: nine agricultural, tourism, and environmental projects; 35 rural development and empowerment projects (including one per local government); 17 infrastructure projects; 13 security and social service projects; and 15 industrial and economic advancement projects — many with sub-projects not counted in the totals.

“We have stopped counting projects because the scale keeps expanding. But each one is carefully chosen for its long-term and inclusive benefits,” he explained.

Systems for Delivery

Johnson stressed that robust systems were in place to ensure completion, including an in-house monitoring unit comprising quantity surveyors, architects, and engineers to review all contracts for cost efficiency.

“When another set of eyes looks at the figures, we often find savings that can fund entirely new projects,” he said.

To curb inflated costs, new guidelines now require designs and bills of quantities before project approval. Twice a month, the Governor chairs a Project Advisory Committee meeting with delivery advisors, commissioners, and community stakeholders to track progress and resolve challenges.

Partnerships for Strength

Johnson announced ongoing collaboration with the Tony Blair Institute and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to adopt global best practices in governance and project delivery systems.

Commitment to Results

He assured stakeholders that the “next steps” were firm commitments backed by vigilant tracking, coordination, and problem-solving over the next two years to deliver and sustain recorded gains.

“Whether a farm, a road, a school, or a seaport, it will be delivered as promised and yield tangible improvement in the lives of the people. This is about leaving a legacy that will outlive this administration and align with both state and national development goals,” he vowed.

Johnson reaffirmed that with the Governor’s office delivery unit fully committed, every project outlined in the presentation would be achieved through a proactive approach to governance.

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Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has met with military, police, and other security chiefs in Kwara South to address rising security threats in the state’s troubled areas.

The meeting was a swift follow-up to reviewed reports submitted by various stakeholders, including findings from a routine gathering of Kwara South leaders convened by Johnson Adewumi, a concerned stakeholder in the area.

Attendees included the Irepodun Local Government Chairman, Abdulazeez Yakub; Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju; Olanrewaju Shuaib (SOFAB); and senior officers of the police, army, and other security agencies in the state.

Governor AbdulRazaq commended the Nigerian Army, police officers, local vigilantes, and community leaders for their collaboration, which he said was helping to sustain peace and safety across the state.

The meeting, which ended on a positive note, was part of Governor AbdulRazaq administration’s broader efforts to strengthen security statewide.

Reaffirming his commitment to fortifying Kwara’s security architecture, the Governor vowed to keep the state inhospitable to non-state actors and criminal elements.

He directed security agencies to maintain lockdowns in areas showing signs of threats and assured residents that coordinated efforts were ongoing with the Office of the National Security Adviser to safeguard lives and property.

Governor AbdulRazaq urged the public to support security operations and avoid panic as law enforcement agencies carry out their duties.

The outcome of the meeting was issued by the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the State Governor, Olayinka Fafoluyi.

PIAK