The Champion of the Underdogs

Malam Ibrahim Shekarau's administration is being recognized as a model, leading other states of the federation in terms of good governance, and honesty, transparently, and accountability at all levels. Also the government is committed in the promotion of human rights, redressing human abuses and application of checks and balances in government administration.

Malam Ibrahim Shekarau's government incorporated non-indigenes into the executive positions for the first time in the history of the State. They are three special advisers for inter-community relations representing Igbo, Yoruba and minority communities.

This has contributed in dousing social tensions as Kano is no longer volatile. Shekarau is acknowledged as truly detribalized Nigerian. He has received honors from both Igbos and Yorubas from the south eastern and south western parts of Nigeria.

Shekarau has become a phenomenon in Kano politics. He had touched the lives of many people in the history of the state through his unprecedented level of employment and developmental programmes.

In the educational sector, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau employed 5,980 classroom teachers and also recruited additional 453 senior and junior members of staff of Science Secondary Schools. In addition, at the six (6) tertiary institutions in the state, more than 1,136 lecturers were recruited.

During this period under review, more than 46,000 internal students and 290 overseas students have benefited from the Kano State scholarship scheme. Out of them, 13,000 are female students. In a nutshell, all students in the conventional higher institutions are benefiting from Malam Shekarau's scholarship scheme.

In school infrastructure, Kano State has completed many secondary schools and formulated many projects in the educational sub-sector, and it completed a lot of primary schools too.

The Shekarau Administration has also registered positive impact by improving the quality of personnel. From 2003 to 2010, 103 medical doctors were recruited with an addition of 26 visiting consultants.

There were also an increase of employment of pharmacists from 38 in 2003 to 179 pharmacists working day and night now in the state hospitals. Shekarau's Administration also employed additional medical staff amounting to 450 nurses and midwives; and 2,000 skilled and unskilled supporting staff.

In Agricultural sector, about 70 per-cent of the population are directly engaged in agriculture or agro-related activities in the state. Most of the farmers produced food crops such as guinea corn, millet, maize, wheat, rice, beans, groundnuts and vegetables.

Other food and cash crops produced by Kano State farmers include sweet potatoes, cassava, cocoyam, cotton, and sugar cane. Livestock such as goats, cattle, sheep and camels are also reared by the farmers for meat, milk, hide and skin, and for animal traction. Fish is also produced in order to provide additional protein, while horses and donkeys are also reared for transportation and ceremonies.

Within the eight years of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau in office, more than 70,000 farmers have been trained in modern techniques of farming. More than 600 extension workers were also trained in Nigeria and abroad about modern farming.

Malam Shekarau has developed new policies and programs and has expended huge amount of money towards improving the agricultural sector in the state.

In addition, more than 13,000 small-scale farmer groups have been supported with income generation packages through the supply of labour-saving machines in order to reduce production cost and raise more revenue.

Similarly, the Shekarau Administration has provided fertilizer at subsidized rate more than any other state in Nigeria. From 2004 to date the Shekarau Administration has provided more than 200,000 metric tons of fertilizer at a subsidized rate of one thousand naira per bag — more than the amount ever provided by all the previous administrations.

The Human Development Policy of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was geared toward the upliftment and fulfillment of its pledges and obligations with regards to civil servants, pensioners and other retirees who were denied their basic rights by the previous Administration.

Kano as a centre of commerce, the largest commercial centre in West Africa, provides opportunities and continuous patronage by both manufacturers and consumers of processed goods. The volume of trading activities going on daily basis in markets like Muhammad Abubakar Rimi (Sabon Gari), Kwanar Singer, Kantin Kwari, Sheikh Nasuru Kabara (Kofar Wambai) and Dawanau stimulated Shekarau's Administration to come up with the largest investment in the commercial city. The project is the first of its kind in the history of the State, since the establishment of the famous Kurmi Market by Sarkin Kano Muhammadu Rumfa in the 16th century.

The project known as Kano Economic City Project or Kanawa Trade Centre is worth over 17 billion naira. It is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project located at Dangwauro Village along Kano–Zaria Road and Kano–Maiduguri Road at the Eastern by-pass round-about. Some of the facilities in the trade centre are Shopping Malls, Restaurants and Coffee Shops, Boutiques, a Five-Star Hotel, Motels, Conference halls, two Cinema Halls and an In-Door Theater. Other facilities include 5,500 units of lock-up shops, 3,000 units of open shops, large, medium and small warehouses, Mosques, Clinics, Banks, Fire and Police Stations. It was estimated that more than 500,000 people will benefit from the centre daily when completed.

In the area of capacity building, the state government has sponsored several courses and retreats for various categories of public servants, more than any other administration in the history of the state. This has yielded positive results as the civil service is becoming more efficient and the civil servants are poised to face the challenges of the 21st century.

It is not possible for any society to be democratic without freedom of expression. It is common knowledge that freedom of expression had its limits from 1999 to 2003 in Kano State, because the government then did not tolerate criticism even from members of the public, not to talk of the press.

When Shekarau assumed administration he allowed the opposition to criticize his government even in the state-owned print and electronic media.

Also with the coming of Shekarau Administration, the Hausa Home Video industry, popularly known as Kannywood, has achieved a lot — including the successful hosting of the three annual Kano film awards in 2004, 2005 and 2006 for industry practitioners and other stakeholders.

In 2007 the Shekarau Administration came up with an initiative to sanitize the industry. The government intervened by organizing capacity building for all the stakeholders through workshops, symposia, seminars, conferences, retreats and other programmes. Consequently, the state government sponsored the production of model films, and ten million naira were given to individual film producers as loan without interest.

Also Malam Ibrahim Shekarau's concern for the poor has made him a distinguished guest on good governance in many countries in Europe, North America, Africa and other parts of the world.

Shekarau is a leader, not a ruler. He fears God by being upright and being honest in all he does publicly and privately. Malam Shekarau is known as a person that stands by his words.

'Limamin Adaidaita Sahu', as the people of Kano fondly call him, is a man of the people across the social strata of the state. Most of Malam Shekarau's programmes are for the interest of his people.

In line with the commitment to his participatory approach to governance, Shekarau's Administration introduced Constituency Projects — committing billions to projects that originated from the constituents through their members in the State House of Assembly.

The strategy has become successful because over 500 hand pumps, motorized and solar-powered pumps have been drilled or installed in several villages and towns and in the metropolitan Kano.

Similarly, over 600 communities have been electrified or connected to the national grid, and in some areas relief transformers have been installed to enhance electricity supply. More than 700 kilometres of rural feeder roads have also been constructed under the constituency projects.

Kano State has been engaged in the fight against hunger by means of a comprehensive and broad-based policy for sustainable development and poverty reduction. The policy leverages economic growth, empowers the poor and promotes decent work and employment opportunities as part of its poverty-reduction strategy — a comprehensive development framework involving all stakeholders in the state.

This initiative has benefited more than 50,000 youth and provided economic opportunities in the state.

Many youth who were hitherto exploited by politicians, popularly known as 'Yan Jagaliya, have been rehabilitated and trained in various skills through the Office of the Special Adviser, Youth Development and Women Affairs.

Similarly, the Office of the Special Adviser on Education and Information Technology has been involved in training and empowering 'Alarammomi (Qur'anic and Islamiyya School Teachers) under the poverty-alleviation programs.

For proper implementation of the Shari'ah legal system, this administration has reinvented the Shari'ah structures, namely: the Shari'ah Commission, the Zakat and Hubusi Commission and the Hisbah Board. Malam Ibrahim Shekarau also inaugurated the Shura Council, made up of prominent Ulamas, technocrats, community and business leaders to advise the government on social issues — with the overall aim of achieving social harmony. This has contributed to the peaceful environment that the administration has been enjoying since it came to power.

Shekarau's efforts to co-opt the elite, the traditional rulers, the Ulamas (religious leaders), Community-Based Organizations, students, youth organizations and many others into his government have contributed to maintaining peace in the State despite turbulences in many other states of the Federation.

As part of its developmental programmes, the Administration of Malam Shekarau has executed the largest water project ever in the history of the State. This project is capable of providing 150 million litres of water per day. The Tamburawa Water Works was constructed at a cost of N5.6 billion. About 3 million people benefit from the project daily.

In its attempt to enhance computer and internet knowledge, the Shekarau administration has converted the abandoned seven-storey building at Kofar Nassarawa, in the heart of Kano City, into an ICT Park — the first of its kind on the African continent. The Park is managed by the newly created Ministry of Science and Technology.

The project has opened opportunities to thousands of people, mostly youth, who can improve their knowledge of computers and the internet and enhance their socio-economic and political awareness.

Shekarau's establishment of the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission also shows his commitment to the fight for justice and against corruption in the State. The Commission has organized a sensitization tour of all 44 local government areas of the State, persuading the general public to come forward with complaints or evidence of corruption for disciplinary measures.

Almost all of these cases have been investigated, and those found wanting have been prosecuted. In addition, the commission has recovered more than 10 million naira from various organizations and agencies.

In the sporting world, Kano is a pace-setter in traditional and modern games. The Shekarau Administration has provided sufficient and adequate funds for sporting activities and sports administration — including the general rehabilitation and renovation of the two major stadiums in the state: the Sani Abacha Multi-Purpose Stadium and the Kano Pillars Stadium. Other pitches have also been given a face-lift. These facilities have hosted several soccer tournaments, including the FIFA Under-17 Junior World Cup in 2004.

The commitment and encouragement from the Shekarau Administration has also helped the Kano Pillars football team and the Kano Pillars basketball club attain national and international reputation and fame. The Administration also pays serious attention to other sporting activities such as volleyball, horse racing, polo, golf, snooker, boxing, wrestling and judo.

The second term of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau added opportunity for the Administration to achieve its desired goal of making Kano State a shining example in Nigeria. Political observers are of the view that Governor Ibrahim Shekarau is the most silent achiever among his peers. One of his achievements is the clinching of his party’s presidential ticket on Saturday 15th of January, 2011.

Malam Shekarau is the most credible person to give this country the desired leadership that is currently lacking. Nigeria would not regret having Shekarau as its next President.

It is this passionate belief of selfless service, concern for the UNDERDOG and love for humanity that has endeared Sardaunan Kano, Mallam (Dr) Ibrahim Shekarau to the hearts of millions of his fellow countrymen. That is why we pray that God Almighty grants him success in this arduous task of leadership.

Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was born in Kurmawa Quarters in the ancient City of Kano on the 5th day of November 1955, to the family of Alhaji Haruna and Hajiya Maryam Shekarau.

His father was a Native Authority Police Officer. Young Ibrahim was trained in both Islamic and Western schools.

After completing his primary and secondary schooling in Kano, he gained admission into the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated with a B.Sc. in Mathematics in 1977. He served in the National Youth Service in Imo State before joining the Kano State Civil Service as a secondary school teacher in 1978.

As a school teacher he was one of the best, and quickly rose to become a school principal. Due to his dedication and hard work, he gained national recognition — becoming President of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) for two consecutive terms.

Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was promoted to senior management in the Ministry of Education, which culminated in his becoming the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry. He later became the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry — the highest position in the civil service.

He made bureaucratic innovations when he was at the Cabinet Office, where he served for a longer period. He was transferred to the Civil Service Commission, from where he was unceremoniously demoted to classroom teacher and sent to the Kano State College of Arts and Remedial Studies in May 2000. He voluntarily retired from the civil service in October 2001.

Malam Ibrahim Shekarau joined the ANPP and won the Gubernatorial position of Kano State in April 2003, and was re-elected for a second term in 2007. The story of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau is one that depicts a very simple and humble man — one who aspires to do his best despite the odds. This is the story of a man who has worked tirelessly for the general good of his people.