The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Katsina State Council has paid a felicitation visit to the council’s patron, the Kanwan Katsina, District Head of Ketare, Alhaji Usman Bello Kankara, as he marks twenty-four years on the throne.
Leading the council members to the monarch’s palace in Ketare, the council’s Chairman Comrade Tukur Hassan Dan-Ali spoke extensively on the achievements of the monarch in the district during the period.
He listed education and human capital development as the main contributions of Kanwa to his people which have reflected in the number of primary and secondary schools as well as skills acquisition centers across the district.
He recalled that Uk Bello’s appointment as Kanwan Katsina by the then Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Kabir Usman, was widely commended by people of the district, judging from his contributions to community and social development.
The NUJ Chairman congratulated Kanwan Katsina for the wide commendation and awards he has received from different individuals and groups for his track record of service at the Nigeria Customs Service and in Ketare District.
He prayed God to continue to grant the monarch sound health, wisdom and long life to continue to make positive impact on the lives of his people.
In his remarks, the Kanwan Katsina thanked the delegation for the visit to celebrate with him on the occasion which he said will serve as an encouragement to him.
He recalled that when he was appointed District head of Ketare, there was no secondary school in the whole of the District as students had to travel long distances to reach the nearest secondary school either in Dayi, Kankara or Burdugau.
“I had to lobby for a secondary school from the then Katsina State Governor, Malam Umaru Musa Yar’adua who graciously responded to the request.
“After I made the request, then next morning he sent the state Commissioner of Education to Ketare, he met me and told me that the Governor had sent him to meet with me, and start the process of establishing a school in Ketare.
“I immediately summoned my ward and village heads and we provided a large expanse of land where the state government established the school.
“I have also personally established the Uk Bello Primary School, and a computer and ICT Training Center in Ketare in addition to other schools built by the government in Gundawa, Wawar Kaza, Katoge, in fact all the wards in Ketare now have schools.
“Governor Ibrahim Shema also contributed to the welfare of our people in education and other sectors.
“Governor Aminu Bello Masari also catered for the needs of our people, he established a General Hospital in Ketare.
“The current Governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda has greatly improved the security situation in Ketare District by establishing the Community Watch Corps.
“We selected honest and patriotic youths from each ward to be trained and recruited into the corps, and the government is doing a very good job of securing our territories, particularly by providing security to farmers during the planting and harvesting seasons”, he explained.
Alhaji Usman Bello also commended the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman for his fatherly posture to the people of Ketare, and his commitment to peace and prosperity in the Emirate.
He also thanked NUJ members for their support and cooperation which he said has greatly contributed to his success in the last twenty years.
The State NUJ Council Chairman was accompanied by the State Secretary Abdulatif Yusuf, Auditor Yunusa Umar Farouk and NUJ Companion FM Chapel Chairman Comrade Aminu Musa Bukar as well as KTTV NUJ Chapel Chairman Comrade Aminu Garba Dandagoro among others.
