By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
On the 23rd of September, 2025, members of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) led by the President, Chairman of Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, fnipr, converged from across the country to have a first-hand assessment of what the Kano State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is doing to raise the bar of good governance in a way that the impact is felt at the grassroot.
As the body which is saddled with the responsibility of building cordial relationships with various governments and the people, the NIPR has continued to take up this duty by providing quality advice to governments on how to build the bridge of friendship with the masses through relevant programmes and projects. The Kano visit was not just timely, but necessary at this time.
The arrival of spokesperson of the Governor, Sunusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa at the Tahir Guest Palace situated in the heart of the city, where council members converged, was the beginning of a long-day project inspection that lasted late into the night.
First point of call was the ongoing Dan-Agundi flyover and underpass bridge, a three-layer interchange which the Commissioner for Works, Kano State, Engr. Marwan Ahmad said is aimed at elevating the city centre to the status of a mega city. According to the Commissioner, the bridge at Tal’udu roundabout will also be of significant value in tackling traffic congestion in the area. He noted that the project will be commissioned within the first quarter of next year. One of the things observed at the site was that the ongoing project has reduced the activities of criminal elements in that area who hitherto were the people’s nightmare. Speaking through an interpreter, workers at the construction site told the NIPR team that the project has provided them employment, enhanced their living and given them the opportunity to learn new skills.
The delegation also visited Bulbula/Gayawa Gully Erosion Control Project which the governor’s spokesperson described as life-saving. He said that residents of the area have for long endured destructive impacts of erosion, loss of lives and destruction of properties which also saw children navigate through dangerous terrain to go to school.
The President noted that the project, which the delegation was informed is in collaboration with the World Bank, highlights the importance of relationship building. He appealed to the Assistant Project Manager, Engr. Musbau Akindele who received the team, to treat it as a personal project in view of the role it plays in unifying the people and bringing long-term relief to the affected communities.
Also visited was Kwankwasiyya City, a housing project located in Naibawa Kumbotso local government area aimed at decongesting the city through affordable shelter in the semi-urban region. According to the MD, Kano State Housing Corporation, Abdullahi Rabi’u who welcomed the team, other cities being developed by the government to improve the people’s living standard through decent accommodation are Amana and Bandirawo.
After responses from other members of the delegation, the President, himself a key stakeholder in the housing sector, commended the governor for finding it necessary to put in place basic amenities in the cities, underlining that shelter is essential to human living. He however urged relevant authorities to guard against what he called “hijack” of the project by the elite so that low and middle income earners who should be the primary beneficiaries will not lose out. “I have seen similar projects in the past, where a single individual bought everything and converted it into an investment. I hope agencies in charge will guard against this”, he advised.
The Council Members also made a brief stop at a skills acquisition centre in the Getso community, Gwarzo local government area where thousands of youths are trained annually on skills such as tailoring, carpentry, painting and other crafts at no cost, to make them economically independent.
The inspection concluded with a visit to the ongoing Challawa Gorge Hydro Electricity Power project in Karaye Local Government expected to generate at least 6 megawatts of electricity capable of energising three local governments. The Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Engr. Dr. Gaddafi Sani Shehu while receiving the team said the project, aimed at reducing over-reliance on the national grid, when completed next year will provide steady and reliable electricity power supply that will boost the economy of hundreds of thousands of urban and rural dwellers.
“This is very significant for entrepreneurship. It is very important for the rural economy because when you have power, it does a lot in the area of manufacturing especially small-scale industries. It’s not just about giving power for people to see in their homes, it has a synergy with the economy”, the President said in response.
The delegation did not retire for the day without celebrating Dr. Sule Ya’u Sule, a former ranking Council Member of the Institute who recently clocked 60 years. At a dinner in his honour, Dr. Sule’s former colleagues, including the immediate past president of the Institute, Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo spoke glowingly of his sense of commitment to duty and hunger to achieve results.
The President, Dr. Neliaku who personally led a birthday song described the celebrant, who is the Chairman of National Organising Committee of the Nigeria Spokespersons Summit (NSS) for two consecutive times as a treasure, not only to the public relations profession but Kano State and the nation at large.
The Kano visit was indeed worth the time and energy as it gave the leadership of NIPR insight into what is going on in the state with regards to relating with the people in a way that their security and welfare occupies a front burner.
The high-powered delegation included the Vice President, Prof. Emmanuel S. Dandaura; Council Members Mr. Akin Agbejule, Mrs. Olubunmi Adedoyin Badejo, Prof. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi, Hajiya Maryam Sanusi, and Dr. Ahmad I. Sajoh.
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Others were: Mrs. Comfort Obot Nwankwo, Pastor Paulinus Enyindah Nsirim, Comrade Ini Ememobong Essien, Mallam Kabir Ali Kobi, Prof. Sarah Benjamin Lwahas, Dr. Adewale Oladipo Oyekanmi, Mr. Olajide Segun McMedal, and the Registrar, Chief Uzoma Onyebadue.
Officials of the national secretariat of NIPR, including Tonia Monye, Alex Enemanna and Austin Magaji were also in the team. Usman Gwadabe, Secretary of Kano State Chapter of NIPR also joined the project inspection.
