Day Kano fire service effort were recognized
Kano chapter of the institute found the organization worthy for the award given the role it plays in saving lives and property. The parastatal, which is as old the state itself, has over the years been responding to its challenges of rendering humanitarian services. In eight years, it saved 12, 866 lives and property worth […]
Kano chapter of the institute found the organization worthy for the award given the role it plays in saving lives and property. The parastatal, which is as old the state itself, has over the years been responding to its challenges of rendering humanitarian services. In eight years, it saved 12, 866 lives and property worth N319 billion in over 18, 000 special services.
At the award giving ceremony, the once vibrant Triumph Publishing Company, a Kano government owned newspaper outfit, also got the recognition of the institute. The publishing company, which publishes five newspapers, has consistently been in business despite difficult operating environment in the country over the years.
Apart from the three English titles, Daily Triumph, Sunday Triumph and Weekend Triumph, the company also publishes Albishir, a Hausa tabloid and Alfijir also in Hausa but in Arabic alphabet.
Six other individuals, among them Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Education Minister Professor Ruqayya Rufa’i, also received the merit awards. Lamido Sanusi could not receive his award as he was absent. His own award will, however, be conferred on him later this month. The institute fixed March 19 for the event at the instance of the CBN governor.
Other award recipients were Speaker of Kano House of Assembly Alhaji Abdulaziz Garba Gafasa, Kano Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai, member representing Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency at House of Representatives Alhaji Ubale Jakada Kiru and Chairman of BUA Group of Companies Alhaji Abdussamad Isyaku Rabiu.
Reading the citation of Kano Fire Service, a Kano-based public relations consultant Alhaji Abba Dandago said the fire prevention outfit was established to ensure safety of lives and property against fire outbreaks and related disasters such as road accidents, drowning and collapse of buildings.
The organization, according to him, also provides leadership in fire prevention through inspecting factories, tall buildings, petrol stations and other public and private places in addition to other services such as pumping of flooded areas and supply of safe drinking water in areas of need.
Between 2003 and 2010 it received 5,586 fire distress calls which it promptly responded to, even though 1,101 out of them false alarms, he said. “Accordingly, the Fire Service has within the period in question saved property worth N318, 886, 992, 964.00k. It also saved 12, 866 lives in 18, 592 special services”, according to him.
CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was honoured for the sanity he brought to the country’s banking system while Education Minister Professor Ruqayya Rufa’i who was represented at the occasion by her younger sister was awarded for what the institute called “her biggest contribution within a short period as education minister”. The minister, according to the institute, was instrumental to the recent establishment of nine new federal universities, whose vice-chancellors and registrars were shortly appointed and are about to take-off.
Other contributions by the minister in the country’s educational development include review of Senior Secondary School curricula whose implementation will begin in September, the national policy on Almajiri Education launched in December 2010, organizing of Stakeholders’ Summit on Reclamation, Restoration and Sustenance of Ethics and Quality in Education and the setting up of Presidential Team to work out modalities for implementation of recommendations of the education stakeholders’ summit.
NIPR recognized Kano commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai for the transformation of the once moribund ministry of commerce and industry where he held sway as its commissioner between 2005 and 2010 while Kano Speaker Alhaji Abdulaziz Garba Gafasa was honoured for entrenching mutual and harmonious working relationship between legislature and executive arm of government in the last four years.
Alhaji Ubale Jakada Kiru got recognition of the institute for always being ready to express his peoples’ opinion at the floor of the House of Representatives even though he is from the minority of the lower legislative chamber, Alhaji Abdussamad Isyaku Rabiu, chairman of BUA Group of Companies, received the award for his immense contribution in the nation’s business and economic development.
Speaking at the occasion, chairman of Kano State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Sule Ya’u Sule said the awardees were drawn strictly on merit and that no confessional material or contractual commitment was made with any of them before giving them the awards.
Sule, who is also senior special assistant to Governor Ibrahim Shekarau on media and public relations, used the opportunity to announce the institute’s decision to organize a live telecast debate for all gubernatorial candidates of the registered political parties in Kano State, saying the debate would afford candidates the opportunity to present their various missions and visions to the electorate and get their reactions.
The chairman said the institute hoped that the forum would be an annual event. He also announced the decision of the institute to begin its quarterly professional development lecture series for NIPR members.
The national president of the institute Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Abdullahi and former deputy national chairman Alhaji Mohammed Auwal Haruna spoke at the occasion, saying the institute had done a lot in Kano by ensuring excellence and professionalism. Also in his remark, a veteran public relations practitioner, Alhaji Sabo Sarki, said they are remodelling the institute as they intend to embark on the enforcement of the law from July this year to flush out quacks among them.