While going through my archives searching for something a few days ago, I came across a circular from the office of the Kano State Head of Service, dated 26th of February, 2024 and titled Posting of Senior Officers.
The circular which was addressed to all government ministries, offices and MDAs was signed by Umar Muhammed Jalo, Permanent Secretary, Establishment for the Head of Service.
The circular informed and directed all the affected staffers in the circular to report to their new offices and play their expected roles well in their new places of work.
“This was done by the decision to strengthen the service for greater efficiency and to promote effectiveness in the service delivery in consonance with the dynamics of time,” the circular added.
Honestly, it was the last seven names of the attached list of the affected staffers that caught my mind and attention which made me want to read and re-read it again.
This was because the last seven officers of the list were all posted to sports institute to serve in various capacities in the institute.
They caught my attention simply because I know the sports institute, Karfi, is in desperate need of manpower. And to serve the purpose on which it was created by the administration of former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso many years ago, the institute needs to be fully staffed.
Kano State Sports Institute, if truly and adequately funded and operated, cannot only satisfy the athletes, coaches and others needs of Kano state but also the needs of other states or even that of the federation.
As I stated in one of my previous write-ups, the formation of the institute by the former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso was excellent because of its importance to the state and the people of the state.
I could remember that the then government directed for the transfer of the institute to the Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil to commence the admission and their programs which was another good and laudable decision.
But sadly the institute since inception about a decade ago had only graduated 28 students, a situation many put or blamed on the kind of certificate (Diploma) the institute is awarding to its students after graduation.
To most of us, the yearnings and aspirations of the people now is not a diploma certificate which the institute is awarding. But NCE or Bsc certificates should have been the best option.
This is because NCE and Bsc certificate holders have better chances of employment anywhere than those with a diploma certificate.
And as at now the institute has only 18 students currently undertaking courses, which is a clear indication that people have no interest in acquiring the diploma certificate the institute is awarding.
More so, the paucity or absence of qualified academics to run and manage the institute effectively and efficiently also hampers its chances to grow and answer its name not only in the state or Northern Nigeria but the country at large.
Many are aware that those in charge of the institutes are not qualified personnel but mere attendants and office helpers who have no capacity to teach or impart any knowledge to anybody.
So the handing over of the institute to ADUSTECH, Wudil did not change or help the situation as nothing new was seen or done to move the institute forward.
As I said before, the university had not shown any tangible efforts or interest to deploy personnel from both sides (teaching and non-teaching) to the institute to commence serious academic and non-academic activities.
I expected Dr. Musa Sa’ad who has been serving as the director of the institute since its inception more than a decade ago to put more effort and make the institute to truly answer its name.
I also salute the courage of the present administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf who detached the institute from ADUSTECH and made it stand on its feet.
And now that the institute is on its own, I expect the university don (Dr. Musa Sa’ad) to look at its curriculum and effect serious changes which will put the institute on a track of excellence.
Dr. Musa Sa’ad is supposed to liaise with the Nigeria Council of Establishment to find out the course(s) that is or are in a serious need in the field of sports so that he can come back home and redesign its curriculum. It is with the input from the council that the curriculum of all courses will be built.
More so, Karfi village is within and far from the Kano city, this however, made the institute far from town which made its student to face an untold hardship every working day going to the institute.
To solve this problem, Dr Sa’ad needs to advise the government on the need to build hostels in the institute so that those from far distances can be accommodated within the institute.
As I stated before, I expect Dr. Sa’ad to focus on the four areas of education, namely: –
1. NCE/Degree awarding: The institute should award the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees in Sports and Exercise Science for schools/colleges and sports sectors/clubs.
2. Consultancy Services: The institute should also serve as Consultancy and Professional Services for institutions, organizations, offices and unit’s staff and individuals.
3. Basic/Academy for junior students: The institute should also provide Basic/academy training and courses for school ages especially junior secondary schools’ children (12-15 years) because the age of specialization in sports starts from 12 years.
4. Post/Academy for senior secondary students: The institute should also provide Post/academy training and courses for school senior secondary schools’ students (16-18 years) because the age of excelling starts from 17 years.
In the junior and senior secondary schools’ section, the institute will offer training for all the sports/games and JSS syllabus after which it places or sends the graduates into SSS to harness their talents and have their O’Levels certificates for further studies.
And to achieve the above mentioned, the institute must meet the following.
1. Appoints the governing body, since a director has been appointed for the institute.
2. Employ relevant and qualified teaching and other staff.
3. Affiliate with appropriate institutions and bodies in and outside the state.
4. Liaises with other institutions/bodies for bi-lateral and multilateral relationships.
5. Provide recent and world class and standard facilities, equipment, teaching aids and laboratories.
6. Arrange tours and excursions for students frequently.
7. Offer regular training for staff.
8. Provision of funding, transport, logistics and utilities services.
9. Provision of relevant allowances for both staff and students.
10. The institute must be independent so that the director only works with his governing board which will blocked any bureaucratic bottleneck(s).
To me, if these and many more necessary things have been put in place or carried out, the institute will not only be useful to Kano state but other northern states too.
The institute can be a source of revenue to the state government because most people from other states will prefer coming to Kano Sports Institute than going to National Sports Institute in Lagos.
Lastly and more importantly the institute should work independently but only report to the governor directly where necessary.